mitumBACK [9]

mitumBACK
Vienna, Austria
http://mitumBACK.net

mitumBACK is an transdisciplinary project resting upon two basic approaches

firstly we have the artistic approach - mitumBACK - a label trans fair
-here we try to connect people directly with the clothing we brought
back with our new emancipatory strategies using label mitumBACK

secondly we have the scientific approach - mitumBACK - reverse
engineering globalization - where we tried to use art in forms and
figures as a medium to transfer knowledge in both directions, beyond
clichés and borders. to transform the postcolonial dumping ground for
world waste – and overcome this segregation concept in a rethinking
process - because africa is no dumping place.

Mitumba means the discarded textiles, that come from the
abundance of western wardrobes into commercial container collections
and reappear high priced on African markets for sale.

The project buys back this textiles and fair pays African embroiderers
to create handmade labels which signify these clothes as a new way of
art and cultural understanding.

With this new label they are reintegrated into the Western market as
an experiment to rethink globalization.

Theme: General

Bio:

mitumba means the discarded textiles, that come from the abundance of
European wardrobes into commercial container collection and hike a
little later on each African market for sale. Mitumba is the garbage
of “western” prosperity consumption - and a good business.

- mitumBACK - reverse engineering globalization - changed the
direction of this global process: The project buys donated old clothes
back in Tanzania, and fair pay the African embroiderers to handmade
labels which signify these clothes as a new way of art and cultural
understanding. With this new label they are reintegrated into the
Western market and on special occasions they are sold in the so called
“mitumBACK - pop up flagship store” - where you can see all of the
works and informations we have gained by doing this project.

- mitumBACK - a label trans fair - wear it, be a part of the idea. Pay
as you please - but with three different price models to give you some
insight behind the different relations of the price of the former
donation and with the profit gained through the proceeds of the sale
we try to finance schools ( for example mungumaji school in singida
where we also held lectures about our project) or other direct
microfinancing projects.

- mitumBACK isn´t just a new label, it is also an experiment to
rethink global structures, codes and habits based on classical models,
by art, science and fashion.

BE A WEAR - http://mitumBACK.net

Note from the co-curators: This entry was submitted primarily for the online blog.