Adire textile

Indigo resist-dyed cloth made by Yoruba women, with patterns drawn in cassava paste or tied with raffia.

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.