Sumbul Arshi

About the practice

Kanwal Collective began with a simple belief: discarded textiles still hold value - as materials, as memories, and as possibilities for new work. Based in Lahore, Pakistan, we are developing a circular-design practice that brings post-consumer textile waste into conversation with South Asian craft and contemporary artistic expression. Our work centres on wearable art, accessories and home pieces, alongside repair, restoration and redesign. We collaborate with artists and women artisans, with a particular interest in creating durable, skills-based income opportunities for marginalised communities. We want the people and knowledge behind each piece to remain visible, while allowing the materials themselves to guide the design. Sharing practical skills is part of this approach. Through workshops at OLOMOPOLO and the Lahore Biennale Foundation, we have explored darning, appliqué and creative repair as accessible ways to reconnect with the clothes we already own. Kanwal Collective is currently developing its first small collection. We are also developing digital product IDs to document each piece’s materials, makers and care journey. We welcome conversations with artists, artisans, textile-reuse practitioners, community organisations and potential collaborators interested in thoughtful design, repair and more responsible relationships with textiles.