African Textile Heritage. Cultural Storytelling. Education. Creative Practice.
At Ann-Aniedi Asikpo Studio, we bring African textile heritage to life through creative practice, cultural documentation, exhibitions, education and strategic storytelling.
Founded by Ann-Aniedi Asikpo, a multimedia public relations professional, textile practitioner and cultural storyteller, the studio explores the histories, knowledge, techniques and cultural significance behind African textiles. Through our work, we connect traditional textile knowledge with contemporary fashion, creative education, cultural preservation and public engagement.
From designing garments using African heritage fabrics to developing educational workshops, curating textile displays, documenting cultural traditions and advising organisations on cultural representation, our work helps audiences understand not only the beauty of African textiles, but also the people, places and knowledge behind them.
Through DECODE Africa, our cultural documentation and storytelling platform, we share the stories of African textile traditions and the communities that sustain them.
We work with cultural organisations, museums, galleries, schools, universities, community groups, fashion designers, brands and creative practitioners across the North East of England and beyond.
1. African Textile Heritage Exhibitions and Garment Design
We create textile-led displays and handmade garments that introduce audiences to the cultural stories behind African fabrics.
Working with fabrics such as Ankara, Adire, Aso-oke and other African textiles, we explore the relationship between clothing, identity, craftsmanship, cultural expression and heritage. Our exhibition work combines garment design with contextual information, helping visitors engage with the meaning and history of the textiles they encounter.
Where appropriate, garments and textile displays are accompanied by cultural interpretation that identifies the fabric, explains its background and explores its significance.
Our services include:
- Heritage garment design and construction using African textiles.
- Textile-led exhibitions and cultural displays.
- Cultural interpretation panels and written stories for exhibition displays.
- Exhibition planning, presentation and display design.
- Textile displays for cultural events, festivals and community showcases.
- Consultation on presenting African textiles in exhibitions and public programmes.
Who we work with: Museums, galleries, cultural institutions, event organisers, heritage organisations, community groups and organisations delivering diversity and inclusion programmes.
Our approach: We believe an exhibition should do more than display beautiful fabrics. It should help visitors understand their cultural context, appreciate the knowledge behind their production and recognise the people and communities connected to them.
2. Cultural Storytelling, Research and Digital Documentation
Every textile has a story. Through DECODE Africa, we research, document and communicate the histories, techniques, cultural meanings and lived experiences associated with African textile traditions.
Our storytelling brings together written content, photography, interviews, digital media and documentary approaches to make cultural knowledge accessible to different audiences.
We are particularly interested in documenting the people behind the textiles: the makers, artisans, traders, wearers and knowledge holders whose experiences contribute to the continuity of these traditions.
Our services include:
- African textile heritage research and documentation.
- Cultural articles, blog posts and long-form storytelling.
- Interviews and oral-history-led content development.
- Photography and digital storytelling.
- Documentary and short-film project development.
- Educational and interpretive content for cultural audiences.
- Digital campaigns that communicate African heritage and creative practice.
- Stories exploring traditional knowledge, contemporary design and textile sustainability.
Who we work with: Museums, galleries, heritage organisations, researchers, cultural practitioners, publishers, fashion brands and creative organisations.
Through DECODE Africa, our ambition is to help preserve and share textile knowledge while creating opportunities for audiences to engage with African cultural heritage in informed and meaningful ways.
3. Cultural Education, Workshops and Training
We deliver and develop educational experiences that introduce people to African textile heritage through accessible, engaging and participatory learning.
Our workshops and talks are designed for people with different levels of knowledge, including participants encountering African textile traditions for the first time. Depending on the activity, sessions may explore fabric samples, cultural histories, traditional production techniques, garment-making, patterns, materials and the relationship between textiles and identity.
We aim to make cultural education informative, welcoming and practical, giving participants opportunities to ask questions, examine textiles and develop a deeper understanding of the stories behind them.
Our services include:
- Community workshops on African textile heritage.
- Educational talks and presentations.
- Textile heritage sessions for schools, colleges and universities.
- Learning activities for fashion, textiles, art and design students.
- Training sessions for cultural organisations and creative practitioners.
- Workshops exploring fabric, craftsmanship, cultural identity and responsible fashion.
- Educational resources to support textile and heritage learning.
- Contributions to cultural festivals, community programmes and creative events.
Who we work with: Schools, colleges, universities, museums, galleries, libraries, community organisations, cultural festivals and creative learning programmes.
We are particularly interested in developing opportunities for young people and emerging designers to learn about African textiles, understand their cultural contexts and explore how traditional knowledge can inform contemporary creative practice.
Workshop content, duration, materials and learning outcomes can be developed in discussion with each organisation.
4. African Textile Heritage Consultancy and Cultural Interpretation
We support organisations and creative practitioners who want to engage with African textile heritage thoughtfully, accurately and respectfully.
African textiles have distinct histories, production methods, cultural contexts and community associations. Our consultancy helps clients consider these elements when developing exhibitions, fashion collections, educational programmes, publications and cultural content.
We offer research-led support to help ensure that the stories accompanying textiles are clear, appropriately contextualised and mindful of the communities and knowledge holders connected to them.
Our services include:
- Research and cultural briefings on selected African textile traditions.
- Cultural interpretation for exhibitions and public displays.
- Research and writing for textile story panels and educational materials.
- Consultancy for designers working with African heritage fabrics.
- Cultural context reviews for publications and creative projects.
- Advice on textile attribution, cultural credit and representation.
- Research support for museums, galleries and cultural organisations.
- Guidance on communicating the heritage and significance of textiles to public audiences.
Who we work with: Museums, galleries, fashion designers, retailers, publishers, researchers, cultural organisations and creative practitioners.
Our approach recognises that African textile heritage is diverse. We seek to avoid treating the continent’s many textile traditions as interchangeable, and we aim to represent specific fabrics and their histories with care.
Where specialist or community verification is required, we seek to identify the appropriate expertise and knowledge holders.
5. Multimedia Public Relations and Cultural Communications
We combine cultural storytelling with professional public relations and multimedia communications to help organisations communicate their work clearly and meaningfully.
Drawing on Ann-Aniedi’s MA in Multimedia Public Relations, professional communications experience and membership of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, we develop communications approaches that connect audiences with cultural stories, creative projects and heritage initiatives.
Our work brings together research, message development, written content and digital storytelling to support effective public engagement.
Our services include:
- Public relations and communications planning.
- Cultural storytelling and message development.
- Blog articles, website copy and editorial content.
- Social media content planning and production.
- Multimedia campaign development.
- Exhibition and event communications.
- Press releases and media materials.
- Content reviews focused on cultural context and accuracy.
- Communications support for heritage and creative projects.
Who we work with: Cultural organisations, museums, galleries, heritage initiatives, fashion businesses, independent creatives and organisations seeking to communicate African cultural heritage.
We aim to help clients communicate with clarity, cultural awareness and a strong understanding of the audiences they want to reach.
6. Creative Collaborations and Cultural Programme Development
We welcome opportunities to work with organisations and practitioners who want to bring African textile heritage into exhibitions, educational programmes, public events and community activities.
We are interested in developing collaborative projects that connect textile knowledge, creative practice, cultural documentation and public participation.
Potential collaborations may include:
- Textile heritage exhibitions and public displays.
- Educational programmes for fashion and textile courses.
- Community learning and cultural exchange activities.
- Talks, panels and public engagement events.
- Documentary and digital storytelling projects.
- Research and interpretation for cultural programmes.
- Creative projects exploring heritage, sustainability and contemporary design.
We are particularly interested in connecting African textile knowledge with audiences and emerging creative practitioners in England, creating opportunities for learning, exchange and a deeper appreciation of cultural heritage.
Collaborations are developed according to the project’s aims, available resources, relevant expertise and the needs of participating organisations.
Our Approach
At Ann-Aniedi Asikpo Studio, our work is guided by five principles:
Cultural knowledge: We look beyond the surface of a fabric to explore its context, history and significance.
Respectful representation: We aim to communicate cultural traditions thoughtfully, recognise contributors and avoid presenting distinct textile practices as one single tradition.
Education and accessibility: We make cultural knowledge accessible to audiences with different backgrounds and levels of experience.
Creative connection: We explore how heritage textiles can inform contemporary fashion, design, storytelling and creative learning.
Documentation and preservation: We believe that recording and sharing knowledge can help keep important cultural stories accessible to future generations.
Work With Us
Are you planning an exhibition, developing a cultural education programme, researching African textiles, or looking for a creative partner to help communicate a heritage story?
Ann-Aniedi Asikpo Studio welcomes enquiries from museums, galleries, schools, universities, cultural organisations, community groups, fashion designers and creative practitioners.
Whether you need a textile heritage workshop, exhibition interpretation, cultural research, multimedia storytelling or consultancy, we would be pleased to discuss your project and explore how we might work together.
Email: contact@ann-aniediasikpo.co.uk
Website: ann-aniediasikpo.co.uk
Let’s document the stories, share the knowledge and celebrate the people behind African textile heritage.
Ann-Aniedi Asikpo Studio
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