MISTAKEN FABRICS

"Mistaken Fabrics" was a collaborative project between IGC and photographer An Smid created in 2020. The post-apocalyptic collection - made from discarded clothing and traditional Ugandan items e.g. ndeku (gourd) - was shot against the backdrop of Kiteezi, Kampala’s largest landfill. At the time of shooting, Kiteezi was receiving 26 tonnes of textile waste daily and was home to 10% of all imported clothing in Uganda. In August 2024, many years after it was officially deemed 'full', Kiteezi landfill collapsed in a tragedy that killed families and crushed homes.

40% of imported clothing in Africa are deemed unfit for use. So what happens to these "mistaken fabrics"?