ATUNDA, a newly established art and design studio in Nigeria, is transforming discarded textile materials into furniture, lighting, home decor, and sculptural works, aiming to prove that these often waste-destined materials also possess creative and economic value.

The studio was founded by creative Mabayomije Akinyemi-Ekong. According to her, the idea originated from a scene she witnessed while passing through Yaba, Lagos—large piles of fine textile scraps along the roadside—which made her wonder whether these materials could be reused to create useful and beloved products. Since then, this idea has gradually developed into a design institution that uses recycled textile materials as raw materials and advocates for material circularity.

ATUNDA's first collection is called "The Yaba Collection," with raw materials sourced from textile materials recovered from the Yaba textile market. The products include furniture for contemporary homes, offices, and public spaces, as well as expressive art pieces. The first completed piece in the collection is a chair named AKOBI, which is also the studio's first attempt at using recycled textile materials for upholstery.

"AKOBI made this idea a reality," Akinyemi said. "At the time, we felt these discarded fabrics could become something beautiful and valuable, but we weren't sure if it could be done. After repeated experimentation, AKOBI became the first piece to prove it was possible."

In terms of approach, ATUNDA sits at the intersection of design, art, and circular concepts: each piece retains practical functionality while preserving the colors, textures, and imperfections of the recycled materials themselves.

The backdrop to this endeavor is the growing concern in Nigeria over textile waste. Scraps from markets, tailor workshops, fashion production, and other textile links are often discarded, burned, or simply piled up in public spaces.

In Akinyemi-Ekong's view, this is precisely an opportunity to redefine perceptions of such materials. "We don't want to just make something out of waste," she said. "We want to change the way people see these materials. The goal is to first make people fall in love with the piece, and only then discover that the material has been given a second life."

Beyond the product collection, ATUNDA also plans to hold creative workshops where participants can learn to make small furniture from recycled textile materials; it also intends to collaborate with local artisans and explore partnerships that can extend its circular design model into social welfare projects.

Akinyemi-Ekong said the long-term goal is to build a Nigerian design institution that demonstrates the creative and economic potential of materials typically considered worthless.

Source: ATUNDA turns textile waste into functional Art · Originally published on 2026-09-11