Sana Dost Ali - MA/MSc Textiles
GOLDEN ROOT OF CULTURE BY NAQSH
I am Sana Dost Ali, a textile designer whose work is rooted in the belief that culture is the identity of a person. My design practice explores the power of storytelling through textiles, treating them as vessels of memory, imagination, and transformation rather than mere functional objects. During my MA at Manchester School of Art, I personal and cultural exploration of Balochistan’s heritage, where each region carries its own unique traditions, craftsmanship, and ways of expression. By drawing on memories, observations, and lived experiences, I seek to celebrate the richness of Balochi embroidery, food, dress, and craft traditions elements that continue to shape identity and community.
Despite millions of people around the world being connected to Baloch culture, its literature, festivals, and textile heritage remain underrepresented in contemporary design. NAQSH responds to this absence by translating cultural narratives into modern textile expressions, preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten. The work highlights the contribution of small-scale artisans and home-based makers whose craft sustains nearly 20% of Baloch livelihoods but often remains invisible. By amplifying their voices, I aim to create a platform that gives recognition to their skills while positioning them within a global design conversation.
My practice spans the vast arena of embellishment, printing, and textile surface development, with a focus on techniques such as digital printing and hand-painting. I work across multiple textile processes to experiment with color, pattern, and materiality, discovering how surface design can communicate narratives and evoke memory. This process-driven approach allows me to translate people’s stories into tactile and visual experiences.
Ultimately, my work is an artistic and cultural statement, one that values craftsmanship and honors tradition while reimagining it for a contemporary audience. Through memory, materiality, and storytelling, I aim to create textiles that not only preserve culture but also connect past and present, giving space for identities to be seen, shared, and celebrated.
