The African Cultural Textile
Ownership Initiative (ACTO)
Protecting African textile heritage through ownership, law, and systems.
ATCO is a cultural ownership and education system built under TFLAS. It documents African textile heritage, establishes ownership, creates legal standing, and teaches how culture should be engaged with — ethically and responsibly.
Ownership and education work together.
What is ACTO
ATCO is a cultural ownership and education system built under TFLAS. It documents African textile heritage, establishes ownership, creates legal standing, and teaches how culture should be engaged with — ethically and responsibly.
Ownership and education work together.
The Reality
African textiles are celebrated across global fashion, yet the fabrics, patterns, and techniques behind them are often used without consent or recognition. The communities that create these textiles are visible in inspiration, but absent from ownership and protection. ATCO exists to close that gap.
Foundation: Documentation
At the core of ATCO is the African Textile Cultural Registry. It records textile names, origin communities, cultural meanings, usage rules, and oral histories. Each entry is attributed and timestamped, creating proof of ownership and a teaching resource. Documentation becomes authority and curriculum.
The Problem
African textile traditions are repeatedly copied, renamed, and commercialized. Artisans are rarely credited, communities are left uncompensated, and cultural meaning is often lost as designs move through global markets. Much of this occurs in the absence of clear guidance, recognized standards, and accessible pathways for ethical engagement.
Education for Artisans &
Communities
ATCO educates artisans and origin communities on their ownership rights. Through toolkits and training, communities learn how to document their textiles, define cultural boundaries, negotiate with brands, and participate in licensing. Knowledge turns creators into rights-holders.
Why Protection Fails
Most legal and commercial systems were not designed to recognize collective, intergenerational cultural knowledge. Without documentation or education, African textile heritage is treated as public domain rather than owned knowledge. What is not understood cannot be respected.
Education for Designers & Corporations
ATCO teaches designers, fashion brands, and corporations how to work with African textiles ethically. Toolkits, guidelines, and training clarify when permission is required, how attribution works, and how licensing replaces appropriation. Education removes the excuse of ignorance.
Protection, Value & Licensing
Documented and educated systems enable protection. ATCO converts cultural records into legal frameworks and ethical licensing models, ensuring that value flows back to origin communities and artisans. Education leads to accountability.