Abigail Egwunyenga is A PhD research student at the School of Design and Creative Arts. She has 4 years of experience in commercial and academic textile creative production. Abigail Expertise surrounds mixed application of modern technology and traditional practice within the manifolds of interior textiles.
West Africa has experienced a technological breakthrough, showing receptiveness to creative cooperation despite political and economic challenges. The practice of fusing new technologies with age-old methods to produce innovative outcomes is quickly emerging in the West African fashion textile industry. This curiosity about the flexibility of West African Traditional Textiles has led to even more exploration as to their end use which extends towards interior textiles. Therefore, could this new practice of integrating modern technologies in West African Traditional Textiles but for interior use breed innovation and preserve cultural craft practices?
My research stems from the belief that modern advancement in science and technology should be harnessed to enhance West African traditional technologies and by so doing preserve them. Indeed, a culturally sensitive and artisan-centered design and development approach will prove more effective in adapting modern technologies to traditional textile practices. Hence why my research is practice-based. It will be worth exploring how technologies like 3D printing can be integrated with indigenous knowledge systems and technologies to produce authentic, innovative products which portray West African culture. A new research area worth exploring.