“Matalana” is a slang term derived from Lingala, a language spoken in both Congos, meaning “to show off.” It refers to an ostentatious attitude that projects an image of wealth or success that is often far removed from reality. “Superwax” refers to the most iconic range of wax fabric, a textile born from the crossing of European, Asian, and African cultures, produced in Europe and then exported to Africa as a symbol of luxury.

Through this textile brand project, I divert the codes of wax by addressing contemporary themes such as mineral extraction for phones, fast fashion waste sites, and the political and colonial reach of internet memes. Printed on posters in the actual size of a wax cloth and on fabric, these patterns are aimed at both Afro-descendant and non-Afro-descendant audiences in order to raise awareness of power relations between Europe and Africa, systemic inequalities, and the possibility of finding beauty in debris.