Nigeria ✓ Verified craft Resist-dyed textile
Adire textile
Indigo resist-dyed cloth made by Yoruba women, with patterns drawn in cassava paste or tied with raffia.
CottonIndigoNatural dyes Resist dyeingHand finishing
Adire means 'tied and dyed'. Yoruba women, especially in Abeokuta and Ibadan, dye cotton cloth in indigo vats after protecting parts of the cloth with stitching, ties or starch paste. Many patterns have traditional names and meanings. Adire dyeing is traditionally passed down within families and women's artisan communities, and the craft has seen a strong revival with designers and fashion brands.
Key information
Type
Resist-dyed textile
Materials
Cotton, Indigo, Natural dyes
Techniques
Resist dyeing, Hand finishing
Origin
Nigeria
Regions
Abeokuta, Ibadan
Transmission
Families and women's artisan communities
Active since
Living tradition
Meaning & stories
Patterns carry proverbs and record events; wearing adire is wearing a message.
Read the full story →From challenges to innovations
Challenges
- Synthetic dyes replacing natural indigo
- Copying by industrial printing
Existing innovations
- Natural indigo revival
- Collaborations with fashion designers
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