19/05/2021
Adire Eleko
Traditional Adire eleko are designs made by application of starch paste made from cassava flour. The starch thereby resists the starch from penetrating into the fabric used. Paste is gotten by mixing the flour using hot water and strained of any form of lumps or particles.
This mixture is then applied either through a wet feather on the surface of the fabrics or using an already cut out stencils. Afterwards, it will be left to dry properly before being immensed into the dye solution.
This skill or process requires patient as it will take approximately two dedicated weeks to complete a five (5) yards just for designing alone.
Submersion is the next stage; this involves repeated immersion of the dried patterned fabrics into the dyeing solution ( caustic soda, hydrosulphate, dye colour of preference using boiled water; the temperature is also regulated! Not too hot; not warm) depending on how darker the material will be.
Like I always emphasis on this platform, before any price is fixed on a piece of Adire fabric, a whole lot of things are put into consideration!
Just a few of these includes but not limited to;
1)The material used.... Atiku, Teru (the cheapest of all), cotton; guinea brocade (this also comes in various quality; small, medium and large) wa ma gbo "guinea kekere ni eleyi, guinea nla re", silk, satin, chiffon... Material suitable for dyeing Adire has to has 60-75% cotton! If not, ko ni gbe aro!
2)the uniqueness, intricacies of the designs!
Stamping patterns, tie and dye are some of the quickest to make designs. Any traditional designs or detailed free hand batik designs takes time..... Designing 5 yards of Adire Eleko alone takes two weeks!
3) quality of dye used! There are majorly two variants of dye; hot and cold water dyes. Cold water is highly expensive. Even among hot water dyes; there are also grades! The more quality a dye is; the better for the fabric.
Looking for cheap Adire fabrics will be a disadvantage as these types runs off at first washing. You need Adire fabrics that will last for years with quality guaranteed; MTR Adire we ensure you have such Services rendered.
Adire Eleko Egba