Traditional Nigerian Fabric Designs
Adire Fashion Place custom-made this floral print just for us, and it became one of our best-selling masks.
We are dedicated to promoting textiles made by Black artists around the world. We recently interviewed Onyinye, a Nigerian college student and owner of the brand, Adire Fashion Place (“AFP”). Adire, which means “tie-dye” in the Yoruba language of Nigeria, is a traditional textile historically made by women.
Onyinye explained that Adire is often seen as an outdated fabric, characterized by its indigo color and stiff texture. She loves creating modern Adire fabrics on various kinds of materials while using non-traditional colors and patterns.
Click below to hear Onyinye talk about the importance of preserving Adire.
Learn more below:
Source: @adirefashionplace
Traditionally, Adire fabrics are blue and contain different patterns within square boxes with double or triple lines (the rule is that it should not be just one line). There are over 20 Adire patterns, each with a particular meaning.
Instead of using traditional squares, Onyinye decided to play around with different shapes when creating this print.
She incorporated some of her favorite Adire patterns:
1) “Talking Drum” signifies communication and celebration. It is the black and light blue triangle pattern located toward the left of the fabric, slightly below the center;
2) “Kola Nut” is a popular food at native gatherings. This is known as a celebratory pattern. It is the oval-like design in boxes toward the bottom of the print; and
3) “Family Compound” is the linear design on the far left, second from the bottom.
Source: @adirefashionplace
2. This is one of the brand’s most popular tie-dye patterns. Onyinye explained that she wanted to make something vibrant and eye-catching. She folded the fabric and drew triangles to create this print. This is an abstract design without any particular meaning.
Source: @adirefashionplace
3. This is another abstract design that was inspired by something Onyinye saw while traveling around town. She explained that when she sees something inspiring, she will usually take a picture and then later sketch the design and contemplate its application on fabric.
Onyinye used the batik method to create this print. Batik involves making a stamp out of a design and then stamping the design onto fabric using hot wax. The wax resists the dye and therefore creates shape we see.
Source: @adirefashionplace
4. This is a popular Nigerian design called “Adire Oniko.” Onyinye explained that she first ties the fabric in a way that creates different size circles around the fabric. She then dips it into light blue dye, followed by darker, indigo colors.
Source: @adirefashionplace
5. Black, pink, and yellow are the signature colors of Onyinye’s brand, Adire Fashion Place.
She explained that she ended up free-styling the design of this print. At first, she had sketched just a floral design. Afterward, she added the traditional Adire pattern, “Cycle of Life,” and then finished by adding dots.
Source: @adirefashionplace
6. This is a traditional Adire pattern called “Fish Scale.” Onyinye modernized it by using her brand’s signature colors.
*Shop this print below!
Source: @adirefashionplace
7. This is another free-styled design in which Onyinye experimented with different shapes and colors instead of traditional blue squares. The small linear design is a traditional Adire pattern called “Fish Bone.”
Source: @adirefashionplace
8. This print features the traditional “Cycle of Life” Adire pattern. Onyinye wanted to demonstrate its versatility.
Source: @adirefashionplace
9. This print features variations of the traditional “Kola Nut” pattern, a celebratory pattern. Onyinye explained that Kola nuts are popular at native gatherings.
Source: @adirefashionplace
10. By now, you may be able to tell that this is a traditional Adire print. It has the signature blue color, square boxes with double lines, and traditional patterns such as the “Cycle of Life.”
This print also features the “Mirror” pattern (the diagonal stripes to the far left); the “Talking Drum” (the solid and dotted triangular designs); and “Guinea Corn", which means “the hand that feeds never lacks.”
Join our mailing list below for updates on new prints from Nigeria!