About Textile Art Ghana

TEXTILE ART GHANA, TAG, is a women’s cooperative of talented seamstresses making vibrant, lively textile art for the walls of homes and offices.

A Little Background

TAG was established in Dzita, Ghana at the beginning of 2020. TAG comprises of dressmaking graduates from the Atorkor Vocational Training Institute and other skilled local dressmakers. Its aim is to enhance these experienced seamstresses’ inherent colour and design sense to make artwork and home accessories.
Peta HallPeta Hall

The founder, Peta Hall, a Canadian artisan, entrepreneur and activist had in previous years founded the Atorkor Vocational Training Institute, AVTI, in partnership with Atorkor Development Foundation.

AVTI graduatesAVTI graduates

The Institute, now government operated, graduates students in Dressmaking, Textile Design, Catering, Construction, Welding, Electrical and Computer Technology. This is the first postgraduate program for AVTI www.avtighana.org.
Atorkor Vocational Training InstituteAtorkor Vocational Training Institute
ArtworksArtworks
The WorkshopThe Workshop
The TAG TeamThe TAG Team

A Little Geography

DZITA is a sprawling coastal village on the Gulf of Guinea between the Volta River and the Togo border. The village is situated along lagoons and bordered by the ever encroaching sea.
Dzita VillageDzita Village
The Encroaching SeaThe encroaching sea
Crops GrowingCrops growing
The land is just 250 kms. north of the equator and it is hot, flat and sandy making crops and animal husbandry a difficult endeavour. The main occupation used to be ocean fishing but the fishing industry has collapsed due to offshore foreign factory fleets.
Fishing CanoesFishing canoes
The local fisherman use 12-man canoes to set their nets and hand-haul them back to shore with ever-diminishing catches. The local women have few fish to process, smoke, dry or sell at the market.
Going out to fishGoing out to fish
Pulling the fishing nets to shorePulling the fishing nets to shore
The dwindling catchThe dwindling catch
Waiting for the catch
Carrying the ropes
There is a need to raise the living conditions in the area. Many houses have no power, running water or sanitation.

There are no industries or local manufacturers; most livelihoods are balanced on the knife-edge of poverty.

A village houseA village house
Taking notes and designing artworksTaking notes and designing artworks
The village snack barThe village snack bar
Checking out the new library booksChecking out the new library books
Collecting water from the village tapCollecting water from the village tap
The happy TAG team!The happy TAG team!

The Creators

A gifted group of women who create joyful, colourful textile art. The work blends their expert sewing skills with their intuitive colour and design skills honed through a lifetime of living under the African sun.

Working on projectsWorking on projects
Heating the charcoal to fill the ironsHeating the charcoal to fill the irons
There are currently nine women in the TAG co-operative ranging in age from 22 to 39 years old. They are single women, mothers and soccer players.

The women share a passion for learning, and devouring new techniques and skills, whilst earning income to enhance their ability open their own businesses, educate their children, provide for their parents and maybe to continue their education.

The proceeds of the sale of each artwork go directly to the artist no administration charges are deducted.

Donations received support the ongoing Textile Art Ghana programs, allow more women to participate and make the program self-sustaining.

Younger TAG members!Younger TAG members!

Cutting and creating new workCutting and creating new work
Scissor sharpeningScissor sharpening
The workshop

View/Purchase the Artwork

All proceeds from the sale of each piece of textile art goes directly to the artist who created it.
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Support Textile Art Ghana


Donations received support the ongoing Textile Art Ghana programs, allow more women to participate and make the program self-sustaining.