The popular Àdìre textile dyed with indigo is emblematic of the culture of the Yoruba, one of the majority ethnic groups in Nigeria.
As Africa’s most populous nation grapples with high inflation that has left many struggling, Chinese counterfeit adire products have become an attractive option. The imported textiles are challenging the long-established clothing industry in Nigeria, where adire and traditional outfits are often worn for special occasions, weddings and parties, but people who knows the value of the authentic Àdìre still go for it, producers and traders say.
The southwestern city of Abeokuta nicknamed the Capital of Àdìre is home to nearly 2,000 merchants and producers, according to government data. Adire fabric is produced using the tie-dye technique. Fabrics are knotted and folded by hand before being dyed to create colour gradients and shapes.
Toyin Adedokun for AFPphoto
The popular Àdìre textile dyed with indigo is emblematic of the culture of the Yoruba, one of the majority ethnic groups in Nigeria.
As Africa’s most populous nation grapples with high inflation that has left many struggling, Chinese counterfeit adire products have become an attractive option. The imported textiles are challenging the long-established clothing industry in Nigeria, where adire and traditional outfits are often worn for special occasions, weddings and parties, but people who knows the value of the authentic Àdìre still go for it, producers and traders say.
The southwestern city of Abeokuta nicknamed the Capital of Àdìre is home to nearly 2,000 merchants and producers, according to government data. Adire fabric is produced using the tie-dye technique. Fabrics are knotted and folded by hand before being dyed to create colour gradients and shapes.
Toyin Adedokun for AFPphoto
