Connecting Textiles, Nature, and Culture with Magnum Photos for our 2024 Competition
Each year, Textile Exchange and Magnum Photos invite emerging photographers to explore the histories, landscapes, and communities behind fibers and fabrics around the world. The winning entries of the 2024 competition reflect the resilience of communities working to preserve the cultural and natural heritage associated with their traditional textiles.
Textile Exchange’s annual photography competition in collaboration with the world-renowned photography agency Magnum Photos invites emerging photographers to explore the visual stories behind the materials in clothing and textiles. This year, its third edition saw 356 photographers from 64 countries submit over 6,000 photographs exploring how they transform people, places, cultures, and nature.
Chosen by a panel of expert judges, the two winning projects look at the impact of climate change and globalization on traditional practices, both featuring plants that were once used to create textiles and are now extinct or endangered. Overall winner Alejandra Orosco shares the story of the women seeking to bring back natural indigo to the town of Chinchero, Peru, while runner-up Priyadarshini Ravichandran highlights the disappearance of Indigenous desi cotton varieties in the village of Wardha, India.
The two projects document the efforts of communities striving to revive their cultural heritage while adapting to evolving economic and environmental conditions. As both artisans and farmers navigate the pressures of globalization, their journeys reflect a commitment to preserving skills and knowledge.
Together, the photo stories provide a deeper understanding of the intersection between nature and culture that once defined localized textile production systems. They hint at the importance of reviving this connection to ensure a resilient future, and ultimately remind us that clothing and textiles cannot be seen in isolation, simply as products. Recognizing and valuing the geographies, histories, and communities behind textiles is essential for realizing their potential for change.
WINNER
Alejandra Orosco
Explore THE SERIES
Sueño en Azul (A Dream in Blue)
RUNNER UP
Priyadarshini Ravichandran
Explore THe series
The Villlage of Wardha
The 2024 competition is now closed. Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with our ongoing collaboration with Magnum Photos.
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