Reflections on the Symposium
During the recent TSA Shifts and Strands Symposium: Rethinking the Possibilities of Textiles, I volunteered as a tech moderator, symposium chair, and presenter.
As a session chair, I had the privilege of listening firsthand to inspiring presentations, including quilt artist Tim Abel’s talk, as part of the session “Artist projects, practices of care”.
The screening of the film Wax Print by Aiwan Obinyan deepened my understanding of African wax print fabric, especially its migration from Indonesia to Africa.
It was eye-opening to witness the dedication of the Textile Society of America (TSA) board members in sustaining the organization. The symposium featured over 100 individual papers and more than 20 organized sessions, including panel discussions and “warp speed” presentations. These sessions covered a wide array of topics, reflecting the symposium’s commitment to embracing diverse perspectives and practices within the textile community.
My presentation on the “Effects of Project-Based Learning in Lagos State” was scheduled for the final day. Observing other speakers prior to my session allowed me to refine my slides, adjust my text layout, and enhance my presentation delivery.
On the Whova platform used for the Symposium, I initiated a conversation to engage the audience on the topic: “Can engaging in textile craft help young people communicate better?”
The responses were insightful and diverse:
“Textile craft teaches communication beyond words—it helps young people express themselves visually, collaborate, and build cultural empathy.”
“Yes, especially for boys and girls in high school. Unfortunately, stereotypes persist, with textile crafts like knitting and crochet often viewed as ‘girls’ activities. In my school, boys who want to participate must muster up the courage to break these biases. I hope we can create a more inclusive environment where all genders can enjoy the beauty of crafting.”
“Absolutely! Textiles are an embodied communication tool that has been used for thousands of years to tell stories and express sentiments. Through the making process, every creator shares a part of themselves.”
Post-symposium, I remain in contact with a growing network of friends and colleagues, including professors from Nigerian and Kenyan universities who attended the Shifts and Strands Symposium.These connections have since led to opportunities for speaking engagements at conferences such as the European Wool Association.
The global textile community is vast, with TSA serving as a central hub that fosters further connections. My experience with TSA has inspired me to advocate for the establishment of a Textile Society for Africa, collaborating with other textile organizations across Nigeria and the continent to document our shared experiences and discoveries.
The Symposium Proceedings will allow textile enthusiasts, students, scholars and others to continue benefitting from the wealth of information obtained during the Symposium, which will bring further positive changes now and in the future. I am excited about sharing the Proceedings articles with university students in Africa as a source of textile information available for research.
The symposium was a reminder of how textiles continue to shape narratives and build bridges across cultures. I gained invaluable insights into how textiles are being reimagined, opening endless possibilities around the world. I am excited to continue to contribute to this evolving dialogue.
Elizabeth Okeyele-Olatunji likes to say “If you can think it, you can create it.” In her role as ‘Chief Imagination Officer’ she supports young people to help turn their yarn dreams into reality. With a background in textiles, Elizabeth has written craft articles for publications based in the UK, the US, Australia, and Canada. She enjoys speaking in front of young audiences about all things craft-related.Elizabeth serves on the board of Center for Knit and Crochet and recently won the Golden Scissors Emerging Leader Award. You can learn more about her work at: www.facebook.com/TunnizzeCreation
