A short while ago, I wrote briefly on adire eleko and adire oniko. Today, I am expanding the horizon of my readers with yet another form of Adire. Apart from being an expansion of African creative textiles, adire alabere adds richness to African creativity.
Common in notable parts of Africa, adire alabere is a resist process in which designs are formed by sewing certain parts of a 100% cotton fabric in a way that when immersed in dye solution, the dye will not penetrate through the sewing.
Traditionally, adire alabere is done by ladies but technology has eased the process via the invention of various stitching machines that even men can practice the art without inconvenience. The fabric is aesthetically stitched with a needle or sewing machine in creative patterns that would reflect beautiful patterns at the end.
Materials
- Fabric – all kinds of fabric (esp. 100% cotton)
- Dye
- Dye chemicals – caustic soda or soda ash, and sodium hydrosulphite or common salt.
- Scissors
- Pins and needles
- Threads
- Measuring cups and teaspoons
- Wooden rod – for stirring
- Safety equipment – Rubber gloves, nose guard, apron
- Water
- Cooking facility – stove, electric cooker, boiling ring, etc.
- Pencil and Ruler (for beginners)
- Iron
- Polythene bags of all sizes
- Dye vessels – stainless wares, etc.