A Weaving Workshop led by Nathalie Eggenschwiler with Khadija Dikko and Omotoke Joseph
On March 27th, 2025, G.A.S. Lagos hosted Weave Lab – Experimental Creation of Textiles, a hands-on weaving workshop led by Nathalie Eggenschwiler, alongside textile designer Khadija Dikko and architectural designer Omotoke Joseph. The event brought together artists, designers, and craft enthusiasts to explore weaving as both a technical skill and a creative process.
The session commenced with remarks from Aderinsola Ajao, Programme Manager at Pro Helvetia Johannesburg , the Swiss cultural foundation that supported Nathalie’s residency at G.A.S. Foundation. In her address, Aderinsola emphasized the value of international artistic exchanges and the pivotal role residencies play in fostering cross-disciplinary dialogues. Following this, Nathalie presented her research, offering valuable insights into her residency and her exploration of textile traditions. As part of her presentation, she screened a video documenting her visit to a clay site during her residency, where she explored material processes beyond weaving. Nathalie reflected on how her engagement with the loom enhanced her understanding of Nigerian textile traditions, highlighting the significance of weaving in storytelling, cultural preservation, and material innovation. To deepen the audience’s connection to the subject, Nathalie invited participants to handle various fabrics and fibers—including aso-oke—inviting them to experience the textures firsthand.
Khadija Dikko and Omotoke Joseph joined the discussion, expanding on the themes of materiality and craft. While their conversation delved into the various aspects of their individual practices, they also invited attendees to feel and interact with woven samples. Through this, they underscored the importance of tactile engagement in textile-making as a means to understand and appreciate the materials in their raw form.
The event culminated in the hands-on weaving workshop, where attendees experimented with materials such as wool, raffia, repurposed cloth, and others. The facilitators demonstrated key weaving techniques and illustrated how these could be applied to the loom. Attendees were guided through the process of creating their own woven pieces. Sustainability emerged as a central theme, as participants reimagined old fabrics, repurposing them into new designs and exploring the creative potential of material reuse. By the end of the workshop, participants not only left with their woven creations but also with a deeper understanding of the intersections between craft, tradition, and experimentation.
Event Details
Date: 27th March, 2025
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 9b, Hakeem Dickson Drive, off TF Kuboye Road, Oniru, Lagos
About the Facilitators
Nathalie Eggenschwiler
Nathalie Eggenschwiler is an independent Swiss designer and founder of the accessories label Cauchemar, based in Zurich. Combining her background in fashion design with extensive industry experience, she focuses on sustainability and local value chains. Her work blends modern, made-to-order craftsmanship with the preservation of artisanal practices, minimizing waste and fostering ecological innovation. Nathalie’s designs challenge traditional fashion norms, merging artistic expression with a vision for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Omotoke Joseph
Omotoke Joseph is a Lagos-based architectural designer with experience in Cyprus, England, and Nigeria. Her work explores architecture as a catalyst for interaction, focusing on alternative, local, and informal spatial practices. Through research on the ephemerality of Lagos’ market spaces and her time as an experience assistant at the Modern Art Gallery in Oxford, she is interested in the exploration of space beyond its physicality to create dynamic, user-responsive environments. Beyond architecture, Toke is the Production Manager at 16by16, a hospitality and creative space in Lagos Island, where she oversees makerspace initiatives focused on upcycling waste into functional objects.
Khadija Dikko
Khadija Dikko is a textile designer whose work delves into emotions, memories, and identity through the tactile language of textiles. With a BA from Falmouth University and an MA in Textile Design from the Royal College of Art, she merges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary creativity, weaving narratives into every piece. Specializing in weaving, she experiments with texture, color, and form to craft expressive pieces. Currently, she is the Head of Textiles and Home at This is Us, where she continues to explore sustainable textile practices and innovative design.
Through her innovative approach, Khadija not only aims to preserve cultural heritage but also open up fresh dialogues about identity, belonging, and the transformative power of art.
Nathalie's residency is generously supported by Pro Helvetia.
