Africa: Guinean Entrepreneur Mariama Camara Promotes African Textiles Worldwide
[Bird Story Agency] Guinean textile entrepreneur Mariama Camara is moving from promoting African textiles globally to building the institutions behind the industry. Through the Institute of African Textiles, she is pushing for greater ownership, protection and commercial value for the knowledge held by African makers.
Mariama Camara, a Guinean textile entrepreneur, is shifting her focus from promoting African textiles internationally to establishing the institutions that support the industry. Through the Institute of African Textiles, she strives to enhance ownership, protection, and economic value for African creators of textiles. Camara's work has spanned over two decades, collaborating with artisans across the continent for major international designers like Tory Burch, Ulla Johnson, and EDUN.
She now aims to build infrastructure around this knowledge through various initiatives, including the African Textile Academy, the IE3 Museum of African Textiles, and her magazine, IAT Magazine. Camara emphasizes the importance of African textile knowledge, tracing it back to generations of women in her family. She believes that Africa's textile industry must transition from global recognition to valuing, protecting, and building its own heritage.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
