Adire for the Future

Adire textile which originates from the Yoruba people, South-West, Nigeria. Adire continues to be an important part of promoting cultural and traditional dressing within Nigeria, in African countries and even in foreign countries across the continent.

From one generation to the next, the importance of keeping culture through storytelling and passing knowledge down to present the feeling of their indigenous identity may have declined over recent times due to the technological age influences and trends. However, continuing some key elements of culture such as fashion (dressing) so that the next generation would have knowledge to pass it on, for their kids to know about culture and their forms of dressing. So, this notion establishes the need for a significant connection between present-day and old-time forms of dressing.

Nigerian fashion designers and local textile traders have found new uses for these textiles by pairing the Adire traditional attires and style with contemporary designs, allowing ancient motifs and patterns to pass messages to the modern-day society.

Just like Ankara material, Adire fabrics can be used to create Adire print t-shirts, activewear, jackets, pillow cases, bags or tote bags, scarves and others. Adire print textiles can be worn for Church events, Wedding events and other ceremonies (as illustrated in the image below).

Whenever we wear Adire fabric, we always try to ensure that our art and culture are always around and with us or the place we find ourselves. Since the need for a significant connection between present-day and old-time forms of dressing has been established via the type of events in which Adire fabrics or prints can be worn. Therefore, it is highly recommendable that the Adire-made clothing items should be promoted across Primary and Secondary schools (especially boarding house schools and school recreational or sporting events), to foster a grassroot level of incorporating traditional dressing with contemporary clothing amongst the younger generation in Nigeria and other countries and that the promotion of the Adire materials to the Foreign countries through exportation.

Article and Cover Design by Seun Adeyemi (ila) for Adire Lounge.

Date: 19/03/2019

Reference: Nil