Kanta To The World: Upcycled Fashion Experience @ Amsterdam Fashion Week
4 Days. 5 Cities. 1 Radical Vision for Fashion’s Future.
What if fashion’s most radical solutions weren’t hidden, but happening in plain sight; live, in real-time, across continents?
Kantamanto Social Club is an upcycled fashion platform challenging dominant narratives around sustainability by spotlighting the overlooked expertise of upcycling communities. At the centre of this movement is Kantamanto Market in Accra, Ghana, one of the largest second-hand clothing markets in the world, where 30,000 people repurpose approximately 9 million discarded garments each week into new economic and creative value.
Join us for a four-day global activation during Amsterdam Fashion Week, where upcyclers, artists, students, and fashion lovers from across the world come together to reimagine the future of fashion: from the bales of Kantamanto Market to the studios of Amsterdam.
Each day is a hybrid experience connecting live talks, collaborative making, music, and community-driven design across different time zones and cities. We’ll open a livestream portal between Amsterdam and satellite locations like Accra, Toronto, Cairo, and Jaipur, co-creating fashion’s future in real time.
Dates: 30th August (Saturday) to 2nd September (Tuesday)
Times: 10:00 to 18:00 daily
Location: NIO House, 4th floor, Gallery Space Leidsestraat 32-34, 1017 DK Amsterdam
🔥 What to Expect:
- 💬 Hybrid panel discussions with creatives, educators, and upcyclers
- ✂️ Collaborative upcycling workshops & live making
- 📸 Pop-ups, fit checks, and global showcases
- 🎶 Music, art, and conversations from Ghana to India
- 🧵 Opportunities to get hands-on with textiles, repair, and reinvention
💥 How It Works: Check the Agenda above, pick the sessions that resonate with you, or join us for the full journey. RSVP below in the individual links to reserve your spot for the panel talks & workshops! All tickets are free, but we warmly invite you to choose a Donation Ticket.
♻️ Daily Themes:
Saturday, Aug 30
The Culture of Upcycling (Accra ↔ Amsterdam)
With Rafael Kouto, Knits & Notes, Theme Party GH
RSVP HERE: Community Making: Upcycle, Crochet & Afrobeats, Hybrid Panel Talk: Upcycling Across Borders - Community, Culture & Circularity
Sunday, Aug 31
Rewear. Repair. Reinvent. (Toronto ↔ Amsterdam)
With Etta Studio, SWAPMODE, The Shared Bag
RSVP HERE: SWAPMODE Party, Cut & Create: Stylish Shirt Alterations Workshop, Hybrid Panel Talk: Before the Bale; The Joy of Prolonging Clothing Life
Monday, Sept 1
Industrialising Upcycling (Cairo ↔ Amsterdam)
With Oscar Wentz, Glass Textile / The Shared Bag, 1/OFF Paris, Brightfiber Textiles, KledingCast
RSVP HERE: Hybrid Panel Talk: Industralising Upcycling?, Bag to Life: Upcycling Tote Bag Workshop
Tuesday, Sept 2
Crafting Futures with the Past: Informal Wisdom, Circular Cities (Jaipur ↔ Amsterdam)
With Oscar Wentz, Iro Iro Zero Waste
RSVP HERE: Hybrid Panel Talk: Crafting Futures with the Past: Informal Wisdom, Circular Cities
Special thanks to: Gemeente Amsterdam, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie, Studio Binnenstad, Tony’s Chocolonely, Cultcha Kombucha, Wakuli Coffee, BeVino
4 Days. 5 Cities. 1 Radical Vision for Fashion’s Future.
What if fashion’s most radical solutions weren’t hidden, but happening in plain sight; live, in real-time, across continents?
Kantamanto Social Club is an upcycled fashion platform challenging dominant narratives around sustainability by spotlighting the overlooked expertise of upcycling communities. At the centre of this movement is Kantamanto Market in Accra, Ghana, one of the largest second-hand clothing markets in the world, where 30,000 people repurpose approximately 9 million discarded garments each week into new economic and creative value.
Join us for a four-day global activation during Amsterdam Fashion Week, where upcyclers, artists, students, and fashion lovers from across the world come together to reimagine the future of fashion: from the bales of Kantamanto Market to the studios of Amsterdam.
Each day is a hybrid experience connecting live talks, collaborative making, music, and community-driven design across different time zones and cities. We’ll open a livestream portal between Amsterdam and satellite locations like Accra, Toronto, Cairo, and Jaipur, co-creating fashion’s future in real time.
Dates: 30th August (Saturday) to 2nd September (Tuesday)
Times: 10:00 to 18:00 daily
Location: NIO House, 4th floor, Gallery Space Leidsestraat 32-34, 1017 DK Amsterdam
🔥 What to Expect:
- 💬 Hybrid panel discussions with creatives, educators, and upcyclers
- ✂️ Collaborative upcycling workshops & live making
- 📸 Pop-ups, fit checks, and global showcases
- 🎶 Music, art, and conversations from Ghana to India
- 🧵 Opportunities to get hands-on with textiles, repair, and reinvention
💥 How It Works: Check the Agenda above, pick the sessions that resonate with you, or join us for the full journey. RSVP below in the individual links to reserve your spot for the panel talks & workshops! All tickets are free, but we warmly invite you to choose a Donation Ticket.
♻️ Daily Themes:
Saturday, Aug 30
The Culture of Upcycling (Accra ↔ Amsterdam)
With Rafael Kouto, Knits & Notes, Theme Party GH
RSVP HERE: Community Making: Upcycle, Crochet & Afrobeats, Hybrid Panel Talk: Upcycling Across Borders - Community, Culture & Circularity
Sunday, Aug 31
Rewear. Repair. Reinvent. (Toronto ↔ Amsterdam)
With Etta Studio, SWAPMODE, The Shared Bag
RSVP HERE: SWAPMODE Party, Cut & Create: Stylish Shirt Alterations Workshop, Hybrid Panel Talk: Before the Bale; The Joy of Prolonging Clothing Life
Monday, Sept 1
Industrialising Upcycling (Cairo ↔ Amsterdam)
With Oscar Wentz, Glass Textile / The Shared Bag, 1/OFF Paris, Brightfiber Textiles, KledingCast
RSVP HERE: Hybrid Panel Talk: Industralising Upcycling?, Bag to Life: Upcycling Tote Bag Workshop
Tuesday, Sept 2
Crafting Futures with the Past: Informal Wisdom, Circular Cities (Jaipur ↔ Amsterdam)
With Oscar Wentz, Iro Iro Zero Waste
RSVP HERE: Hybrid Panel Talk: Crafting Futures with the Past: Informal Wisdom, Circular Cities
Special thanks to: Gemeente Amsterdam, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie, Studio Binnenstad, Tony’s Chocolonely, Cultcha Kombucha, Wakuli Coffee, BeVino