Culture
Championing the use of indigenous materials such as Lubugo (Barkcloth), Nsimbi (Cowrie shells), Obuso (Raffia), Bugoogwa (Sisal), and Matembe seeds, IGC honours Ugandan and African tradition, reversing historical stigmatisation and revealing disavowed histories and traditional practices.
Olubugo (barkcloth) is a traditional textile made by the Baganda people of Central Uganda. Sourced from the bark of the Mutuba tree (Ficus natalensis), it is widely regarded as one of the earliest known fabrics - predating weaving, knitting, and most forms of textile production. Lubugo is crafted through an entirely manual process - free from chemicals, dyes, or machinery. The inner bark is carefully harvested, boiled, pounded with wooden mallets, and stretched into a supple, leather-like material. The trees are neither felled nor harmed during harvest. Not only can a single Mutuba tree produce new bark for harvest for up to 100 years, but it nurtures whole ecosystems as it grows.
"Lubugo once touched every part of Baganda life. If it's feared and forgotten today. . . what else of our history are we neglecting?"
From clothing, to upholstery, finance, trade, ceremonies, medicine and more, Lubugo was once integral to everyday life in Ugandan society. In the last century, it has been relegated. At best, it is cultural artifact with little practical use. But at worst, it represents shame. The textile is facing a threat of extinction from two angles: both the Mituba are being deforested; and the skill, is quietly being relinquished. Amidst this threat, IGC Fashion has emerged with a determination to revive the textile. By reimagining the material in modern aesthetics, educating and committing to the reforestation and innovation of Lubugo, we are tirelessly working toward its preservation. As we do so, we return to ancestral knowledge systems and the land.
