How to identify original adire fabric

Adire which originally means ‘tie and dye’ is a material designed with wax-resist methods that will produce patterned designs in a dazzling array of tints and hues. Adire is common among the people of Egbaland in Ogun State but also throughout Yorubaland but as fashion evolves, other tribes are beginning to also style in the Adire to suit different occasions.

The name ‘tie and dye,’ reflects the core technique used to create these beautiful fabrics.

The Adire process begins with plain cotton cloth, which is carefully folded, tied, or stitched in intricate patterns. These tied sections resist the dye, creating striking designs when the cloth is immersed in indigo or other natural dyes. The untied areas absorb the dye, resulting in a contrast of colors and patterns.

Ankara.com list some features to help identify original adire fabrics:

Production technique: Adire is a resist-dyeing technique involving folding, tying, and dyeing cotton cloth.

Adire uses cotton fabric as the base material, while others utilizes the inner bark of specific fig trees.

Adire employs resist-dyeing techniques to create patterns, while other fabrics are decorated through embroidery, painting, and appliqué.

Adire patterns and symbols often convey Yoruba proverbs, stories, and spiritual meanings.

Also Adire, never fades in colour when they are washed. The colours remain the same.

According to Ankara.com, there are several different styles of Adire, each with its unique patterns and techniques. The most common styles include:

Eleko: This style involves tying raffia or thread around the cloth to create patterns.

Eleso: In this style, the cloth is folded and sewn with raffia to create intricate designs.

Adire Alabalu: This is a resist-dyeing technique where the cloth is painted with a starch mixture before dyeing.

Adire fabrics are not only beautiful but also hold deep cultural significance for the Yoruba people. The patterns and symbols used in Adire often tell stories, represent proverbs, or convey spiritual meanings.