CELEBRATING 180 YEARS OF VLISCO : A collaboration with sixcontemporary African artists

As we celebrate Vlisco’s 180th anniversary, we mark this historic milestone with a collaboration bringing together six contemporary West African artists to reimagine some of our most iconic patterns through new, multidisciplinary works.

For this commemorative project, we invited each artist to select the Vlisco pattern that resonated most deeply with them and use it as a starting point for artistic exploration. Rather than viewing our archives as a static legacy, these artists transform our signature patterns into sculptures, woven textiles, multimedia installations, and works made from recycled materials—revealing new ways to interpret the stories, symbolism, and visual language woven into our fabrics.

Each artwork reflects a personal connection between the chosen print and the artist’s own cultural history. Vlisco’s most renowned patterns are transformed into objects, environments, and narratives that explore identity, memory, community, and daily life, demonstrating how our designs continue to inspire new generations of creative expression.

Since 1846, the meaning of Vlisco fabrics has been shaped not only by the patterns themselves but also by the people who wear, cherish, and reinterpret them. This collaboration pays tribute to that ongoing dialogue, highlighting how our iconic prints remain a source of inspiration for contemporary artists while staying deeply rooted in the cultures and communities that have embraced them as their own…