State of Fashion is an international fashion platform based in Arnhem, the Netherlands, devoted to critically examining the global fashion industry. The 2026 edition of the State of Fashion Biennale, curated by Anne Zhou, Anouchka van Driel and Shanu Walpita, took place from 13 May – 28 June 2026, and focused on showcasing contemporary work in fashion and textiles from across the global south.
At Kantamanto Market in Accra, one of the world’s largest second-hand clothing markets – ONsite Ghana unfolds as a living practice of transformation.
Developed by The Revival Ghana in collaboration with Artlife Matters for State of Fashion Biennale 2026, the project centres the communities who continuously reshape discarded garments through skill, care and necessity.
Through installation, garment-making and a staged wedding scene, ONsite Ghana explores how reuse can become ritual where fashion carries memory, dignity and possibility.
At the heart of the project stands the Kayayo (head porter) “Amina”, reimagined through strength, resilience and ambition. A bridal garment constructed from recovered textiles emerges as a symbol of renewal, transformation and hope, reflecting the unseen labour and creativity embedded within Kantamanto’s circular ecosystem.
Rooted in collaboration and community engagement, the project highlights the everyday practices of people who extend the life cycle of clothing through repair, redesign and reinvention. By reframing textile waste through cultural expression and storytelling, ONsite Ghana challenges dominant narratives around waste, value and sustainability.
As part of the project journey, the team organised a local presentation in Ghana, sharing the work and creative process directly with the community whose experiences and realities shaped the installation. This exchange formed an important part of the project’s commitment to participation, visibility and collective ownership.
ONsite Ghana was presented during the State of Fashion Biennale 2026, contributing a powerful perspective on circularity, identity and the future of fashion from within one of the world’s most active reuse economies.