The looms on the African continent are as many as they are versatile in their design. They were designed by the indigenous population with its intended usage in mind. Some looms were better suited for wool, others for cotton and other materials used to weave. A variety of traditional clothing, blankets and other items were woven on these looms. Some looms, such as the West-African 15inch loom was handy for the travelling weaver. It would allow him to travel offering his services and his product around the many trading routes in Africa.
Today you can find successfully efforts being made to revitalise the traditional textiles, but larger projects tend to use wider traditional looms to meet a more contemporary demand in the designs of the cloth. The traditional looms are in-expensive to make and a local knowledgeable person could make a weaver a loom. Which would make it more affordable for a starting weaver then a more expensive contemporary version.
Our Story
The African loom was started as a permanent project by Timbuktu Research and Design group. This projects aims to bring to attention of the public the hand processes that made the contemporary practices possible. We also hope to preserve the design while creating continuity of the practices of weaving on traditional looms through innovations of its designs.
Timbuktu Research & Design
Timbuktu Research and Design group is an research centre offering Design services, Workshops and Conducts research activities in a variety of sectors centering around Textiles. The group is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary group bringing together a variety of disciples to create new knowledge.
The Looms today
While large scale mass produced textiles productions has been replaced by machines, on the continent there are still hand weavers carving a niche sector for themselves by hand weaving traditional striking limited editions textiles that are exported, though currently small scale, through many parts of Africa.
The African Textiles
With the contemporary explorations of identity, individuals are looking at a variety of methods to express themselves. Textiles, Indigenous African textiles in one such method used to express and explore ones identity. The designs are not only being translated in weaving, but also in knitwear, crochet and embroidery works.
The world of possibilities
There is certainly opportunities for the African looms that is yet to be explored. Wheater this opportunity is in the art and craft sector or a more tech driven environment. The traditional looms have not been an candidate for innovations. With this in mind we would like to explore avenues afforded to the African traditional looms.
The Afrikan Loom 