You are probably wondering what all the fuss about adire is. In this blog post, I aim to let you understand and appreciate the beautiful work of art that adire is. Okay, let’s get to the gist!
Adire originated from the South Western part of Nigeria – The Yoruba Tribe. The name Adire – meaning ‘tie and dye’, is a simple description of the process of designing an adire fabric. I remember my fine art project in middle school, where we were given the seemingly arduous task of designing a tie and dye fabric 😁. To my surprise, my submission wasn’t much of a disaster as I had envisaged it would be; it came out beautiful 😍. Several techniques are used in Adire, including tie-dye, stitch-resist, and hand-painted resist. The tie-dye technique involves tying fabric sections with string or rubber bands, creating a pattern of resist areas. The stitch-resist technique involves stitching the fabric with thread before dyeing, creating a pattern of resist areas. The hand-painted resist technique uses a resist material to paint a design directly onto the fabric.
The process of Adire involves applying a resist material to the fabric in a pattern or design, preventing the dye from penetrating the fabric in those areas. The fabric is dyed in a natural indigo solution, resulting in a deep blue color. The resist material is then removed, revealing the white pattern on the blue background. The resulting fabrics are beautiful patterns and designs with dazzling tints and hues unique to the Adire fabric design style. Creating adire fabrics is an art that can be used for various purposes, including clothing, upholstery, and decorative items.
Truth be told, the Adire-making process is complex and time-consuming, but the result is rewarding. The resulting fabric is highly prized and sought after for its beauty and quality. Also, Adire has recently gained popularity in the global fashion and design industry, with designers and fashion houses incorporating Adire fabrics into their collections.
The Adire industry’s growth has also positively impacted the local economy, providing employment opportunities for skilled artisans and promoting the preservation of traditional techniques and designs. . So, what’s not to fuss about?
Adire is a unique and beautiful textile art with rich history and cultural significance. It is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the Yoruba people, and it is an important part of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage that should be preserved. Hence, at Iseewa, we are heralding the African Ethical Art.
At Iseewa, each Adire print is a custom design, telling a story of empowerment and breaking limiting beliefs. We believe that the clothes we wear can speak to us. The question is ‘What is your cloth saying to you? Fashion should reflect your inner and outer self, our pieces are designed to do just that!
