This six-week workshop in Benin aimed to revitalize traditional weaving by fostering research, innovation, and economic sustainability.

A team of 12 weavers, 3 textile designers, and an industrial designer (me) explored new creative directions while respecting tradition.

Beninese weavers, accustomed to reproducing existing patterns, were encouraged to experiment with design, shifting their mindset toward research and long-term innovation.

The challenge was to move from 2D textile weaving to 3D thinking, integrating interdisciplinary collaborations with carpenters and metalworkers.

The workshop also promoted local materials and natural dyeing, reducing reliance on imported polyester by rediscovering plant-based pigments.

A key hurdle was reframing trial and error as part of the creative process, as failure was often seen as a waste of time and resources.

For me, as an industrial designer, adapting to Beninese resourcefulness—where precision tools, standardized materials, and electricity were not always available—became a lesson in flexible, low-tech design.

The project’s results were exhibited in Senegal, Benin, and Belgium, selling out completely, but its true success lay in shifting perspectives—some weavers have since integrated research into their practice, ensuring their craft continues to evolve.