Preserving the past to support a future for West African textiles.
Five | Six Textiles began with a conversation. In 2014, Emma Wingfield, a textile arts researcher, was traveling through Côte d’Ivoire studying the development of contemporary craftsmanship and design. During a meeting with master weavers at Waraniéné, they expressed an interest in working with someone on product development and bringing their designs to an international audience.
Upon returning to the USA, Emma enlisted the help of Laine Henry, a designer, and together with the master weavers of Waraniéné co-founded Five | Six Textiles in 2016. Five | Six has grown in tandem with Waraniéné ever since. Now partnering with over twenty-two Master weavers and seven tailors.
Five | Six transports impeccably handwoven textiles from northern Côte d’Ivoire into contemporary homes around the world. We consider it a privilege to work with this small collective that values their own craft and culture, centering the master weavers as not only fabricators of exquisite handwoven cloth but as textile designers. Five | Six is committed to supporting and exploring the rich traditions of West African weaving and dyeing, honoring the artists who are committed to making this craft their profession.
Our mission is to make exceptional textiles that preserve a rare weaving culture while simultaneously benefiting their community. We are dedicated to building a sustainable business with the artisans that facilitates a dialogue between themselves and the global community. As an artisan-to-consumer brand, we spend time developing our model with Waraniéné rather than for Waraniéné. As a not-for-profit, our business model is fluid, allowing Five | Six to change and innovate according to the needs and interests of the master weavers and community members of Waraniéné.
We pay fair wages that are defined by our weavers based on the current sell rate of textiles locally. Emma and Laine do not financially benefit from Five | Six Textiles. In 2021, Five | Six Textiles became the sales end of Five | Six Project. Five | Six Project funds the preservation of these textiles arts practices for future generations.
We hope Five | Six will help create a world of responsible consumers. Each Five | Six Textile takes anywhere from one and five days to weave, meaning each piece is mindfully crafted and requires intentionality in decision making. We hope that intentionality extends to the person who purchases it and cherishes a real understanding of how the things they buy are made and what that represents. Each textile is designed to enrich the space it inhabits, highlighting craftsmanship and longevity.
Vali Coulibaly
CO-FOUNDER, SECRETARY OF WARANIÉNÉ
Five | Six Master Weavers
Mariame Coulibaly
MASTER COTTON SPINNER
Emma
CO-FOUNDER, HEAD OF OPERATIONS AND MARKETING
Emma runs Five | Six Textiles out of her London, UK studio while perusing her Doctorate in Textile Innovation and Consumption at Goldsmiths, University of London. She has a Masters degree in West African History of Art and Archaeology from University College London and worked previously with museums and galleries in London and New York City. Fascinated by the economic development of the art market and its effects on local and global communities, Emma is dedicated to building sustainable businesses that bridge art and commerce.
Laine
CO-FOUNDER, HEAD OF DESIGN
Laine has a deeply rooted passion for design; from her BFA from Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia to her 10+ year career as a fashion designer in New York City. She’s designed the lines for several internationally known brands and pursued her own creative exploration in graphic design, typography, and user experience design in her spare time. She now works as an Associate Experience Director in the tech industry. Her creative motivation has always been to perfect the delicate balance between art and commerce.
Clement
COMMUNITY OPERATIONS IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE