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Adire

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description Adire Overview

Adire is a Yoruba resist-dyed textile tradition associated particularly with southwestern Nigeria. Artisans create patterns on cloth before dyeing it with indigo, using methods that include tying, stitching, folding, stenciling, or applying a cassava-starch resist that blocks the dye. Adire textiles feature geometric, figurative, and named motifs and are made for clothing, household use, ceremonial contexts, and contemporary fashion and art.

help Adire FAQ

What culture and region is Adire textile originally from?

Adire is a traditional resist-dyed cloth that originates from the Yoruba people, specifically in southwestern Nigeria. The name itself translates to "tie and dye" in the Yoruba language.

How is the indigo dye applied in Adire textile making?

Artisans apply the indigo dye after creating patterns on the cloth using techniques like tying, stitching, or folding. Another common method involves applying a cassava-starch resist to block the dye from penetrating specific areas of the fabric.

What are the different types of Adire cloth?

The main types include Adire Oniko, which uses raffia tie-and-dye techniques, and Adire Eleko, which utilizes the cassava starch paste resist method. Adire Alabere involves stitching patterns directly into the fabric before submerging it in dye.

What colors are traditionally used for Adire textiles?

Traditional Adire relies heavily on deep blue indigo dyes extracted from local elu plants. While modern versions may use an array of synthetic colors like red or brown, the classic indigo blue remains the most iconic and historically significant.

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