At the SPIN-D Festival of Arts and Science of Brain Health and Dementia, the Textiles for Cultural Connection workshop featured a compelling talk by Madeleine Laini and Christelle Tulia of Kiyana Wraps.

Their session, Culturally specific fashion to support memory recall and emotional well-being using African headwraps, examined how cultural aesthetics can become tools for reminiscence, connection, and wellbeing.

For individuals living with dementia in communities living outside of or away from their homeland or native land, memory loss can sever ties to both personal and cultural identity. Kiyana Wraps addresses this by offering hands-on workshops that reintroduce traditional African headwraps and draping techniques in safe, adaptive ways.

Our goal in coming to SPIN-D was to show how Kiyana Wraps could bridge culture, style, and care – and we left inspired by what we experienced. We were able to reintroduce the headwrap – an age-old accessory steeped in history – in a meaningful, creative way. Seeing the headwrap used as a tool for reminiscence and wellbeing in dementia care reaffirmed our belief that creativity has the power to heal. Through colours, fabrics, and patterns, we engaged the senses and encouraged participants to reconnect with memories, heritage, and identity. For us, Kiyana Wraps represents a new, culturally grounded approach to dementia care – one that honours personal histories and challenges how we think about inclusion within health and wellbeing. Thank you for having us, we had a blast!

– Madeleine Laini, Founder, Kiyana Wraps

SPIN-D has been a fantastic platform for showcasing how art-based interventions can support people living with dementia. At Kiyana Wraps, we’ve always seen our headwraps as more than fashion-they’re bridges between culture, heritage, and identity. Through our workshop, we invited people to explore connection and self-expression using textiles. It was wonderful to see participants from different backgrounds come together-from care users to caregivers and researchers-all united by creativity and curiosity. The inclusivity and warmth of SPIN-D made this experience truly special. We’re excited to return and continue developing workshops that celebrate culture, connection, and care.

– Christelle Tulia, Co-Founder, Kiyana Wraps

Drawing on participant testimonies, caregiver observations, and cultural fashion, the talk demonstrated how headwraps can stimulate memory recall, spark conversation, and promote emotional well-being. It further examined the therapeutic potential of touch, colour, routine, and storytelling embedded in the headwrapping process — advocating for fashion as a culturally responsive care tool within dementia support frameworks.

Seeing how the diverse audience responded to and enjoyed this creative workshop made me appreciate the power of it. I imagine that when the activity is utilised as a cultural connection for reminiscence for people living with dementia, that the session becomes incredibly impactful. Great work by wonderful people! Also, I loved it so much, I bought a head scarf and love wearing it!”

–Debra Gingell, SPIN-D PPIE Coordinator

To learn more about Kiyana Wraps, visit their website.

VIDEO – Kiyana Wraps Documentary: Touching the Past: Reliving Core Memories through Cultural Headwears with Carl Case & Kiyana Wraps

Kiyana Wraps Linkedin.