God in his infinite wisdom assigned a unigue identity to us Africans which is reflective in our culture- the rich cultural heritiages we have been blessed with, of which Akwete fabric weaving craft is one, and a mode of dressing that is uniquely ours. Emmanuel Okoro is most noted for his use of the cloth under his brand Emmy Kasbit. Different types of weaving apply different methods in which these threads are inter-woven which affects the characteristics of the cloth. Akwete cloth is wider at one end and longer on one side—a feature that is either deliberate or unpreventable but that cannot be reproduced by weaving machines. Akwete Cloth and Its Motifs, Marian Davis, African Arts Vol. Akwete cloths are distinguished from other textiles produced on the vertical loom by their size. British Prime Minister Theresa May wearing Aso-Oke by Emmy Kasbit [Image: The Guardian NG]. Thus, each weaver has an unwritten copyright for their design which no other artist is permitted to copy. We strive to redefine the African story by choosing to invest in what they believe: Africa is cool! The method of producing kente, called strip weaving, has existed in West Africa since the 11th century. Weaving kente cloth on a loom . Cotton, 178.5cm. Akwete: This small town just north of the city of Port Harcourt is one of the last centres of a once much wider tradition of Igbo women’s weaving. TDS sell a lifestyle, a story and shift in mentality. While mothers were weaving. Weaving has been an age long profession of women globally. Bida was once the capital of a Fulani-ruled emirate renowned in West Africa for its craft-works, which include decorative brass casting, embroidery, and glass bead making, as well as both men’s and women’s weaving. The traditional Igbo weaving as demonstrated in Akwete, processes sisal-hemp, raffia and cotton into finished products. Young girls begin weaving cloth as soon as their arms are long enough to work the loom, and make sections that range from 15-to-30 inches wide. They would begin as soon as their arms were long enough to operate the loom. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Women’s wrapper from the Igbo peoples, Akwete, Nigeria, early to mid-20th century from David Adjaye Selects at the Cooper-Hewitt. It was originally referred to as “Akwa Miri” (Cloth of the water) meaning towel. Measurements: 75 ins x 51 ins, 192 cm x 130 cm. The traditional Igbo weaving as demonstrated in Akwete, processes sisal-hemp, raffia and cotton into finished products. of cloth in Southeastern Nigeria from its origins through trade to its various levels of assimilation both in use and production. A wom-an's weaving is 40 to 50 inches wide and is woven on a full size wall loom. The Igbo began to trade the fabric for goods from international traders and the Sahara, as well as, other regions of Nigeria. It is an industry owned by women only. Kente cloth is purely hand woven; no machinery is used. Akwete cloth is a unique hand woven fabric of Igbo women of Akwete in Abia State, Nigeria. Akwete cloth. Historically, kente cloth is the attire of royalty, originating from Ghana. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. There are different patterns & motifs for the cloth. Using hand woven textiles made in Abia Sate, he fashions modern interpretations of dresses, skirts, shorts, suits and jackets. Consequently, girls are taught how to weave Akwete cloths like this from a very young age . These were mainly worn by women. Dates from circa 1960-1970 and is in excellent condition. The cloth itself is said to be as old as the Igbo nation. Traditionally the creator of a new motif is granted an unwritten copyright. [Image: Royal Ontario Museum Textiles & Fashions]. Okene is a town located in the central senatorial district of Kogi State in Nigeria. Bida was once the capital of a Fulani-ruled emirate renowned in West Africa for its craft-works, which include decorative brass casting, embroidery, and glass bead making, as well as both men’s and women’s weaving. Akwete cloth is a special woven fabric by Igbo women in Akwete area near Aba in Abia State. Akwete-cloth weaving in Igboland is basically done by our women in Akwete area near Aba in Abia State. Nupe: the Nupe live along the river Niger in central Nigeria, around their capital of Bida. During the mid 1900s, weaving in Akwete shifted from being a part time occupation for some women, to being a full time occupation for the majority of women. Akwete cloth is a handwoven textile from Igboland, Nigeria. References The Akwete clothes refers to the cloth woven in the Ndoki town of Akwete in Ukwa East local Government Area of Abia State.Although some other communities around the region so participate in this craft of cloth weaving, but Akwete is the most renowned of these weaving communities. Unlike the Kente and Barkcloth that was made by men, Igbo women traditionally handled Akwete weaving. Towns where these traditional industries are located comprises the following towns and villages – Ndoki of Abia State sharing common boundaries with Ndoki, Ijo and Ogoni of River state as a cluster of weaving … Although Akwete women weave dur-ing their spare time-after farming and These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. KEYWORDS: Akwete, Weaving, Poverty, Alleviation, Tourism INTRODUCTION Akwete cloth is made from Ukwa East Local Government Area, Abia state, Nigeria. Kente is no ordinary cloth and is easily recognisable worldwide. Earth colors seem to predominate traditionally, but the contemporary access to imported dyes and colored cotton thread has broadened the spectrum. S ocio-cultural importance: Because of the dexterity of the weavers who demonstrated evincingly great mastery of technique and beauty of design, the art of Akwete-cloth weaving was erroneously believed to have been introduced from Okene in Kwara state where a similar but highly developed style earlier existed. The weavers in Akwete claim to know over a hundred different motifs but not more than three or four are usually used simultaneously on one piece of cloth. Socio-cultural importance : Because of the dexterity of the weavers who demonstrated evincingly great mastery of technique and beauty of design, the art of Akwete-cloth weaving was erroneously believed to have been introduced from Okene in Kwara state where a similar but highly developed style earlier existed. Towns in Asa include Umunteke, Ohuchu, Mkporobo, Umuebulungwa and Owo. Collected In The Late 1930s By Gi. The cloth was woven during the 1950's or 1960's. Their techniques are guarded both within the village itself and from one compound to another. As the weaving progresses, the finished cloth is slipped down over the lower beam and up and back. It can take weeks to weave one of these wide masterpieces. Some Rights Reserved CC-BY-NC-SA by British Museum. Okeke (1985) defined weaving as The Akwete community considers cloth weaving to be a gift you’re born with. During this time, weaving in Akwete shifted from a part time occupation of some women, to a full time occupation of the majority of women. Today, it’s incorporated into contemporary fashion through designers such Kenneth Ize and Chinasa Chukwu. Akwete cloth is a unique hand woven textile produced in Igboland for which the town of Akwete in Abia state, Nigeria is famous. Akwete cloth is woven as a full wrapper, unlike in other weaving Nigerian towns like Bida, Okene, and Lokoja, where cloths are sewn together to reach wrapper size. This cloth has motifs that were inspired by those of Ijebu Yoruba aso olona textiles, also traded in the past to Niger Delta communities. Akwete cloth as it is rightly named is a hand woven cloth produced by the people of Akwete – Ndoki in Abia State of Nigeria. It creates a quintessential African look. Chinasa Chukwu of Weruzo  gravitated towards the cloth because sustainability and cultural preservation is vital to her brand. World Museum Liverpool. Originally known as ‘Akwa Miri’, which translates to ‘cloth of the water’/towel, its purpose stretches across the board. Examples include, […] They can be single or double faced, with the latter presenting motifs on both sides. It is originally referred to as “Akwa Miri” (Cloth of the water) meaning towel. As is typical of Akwete weaving, the cloth is noticeably wider at one end than the other. Akwete cloth is a uniquely weaved cloth that originated from Akwete community in Abia State. It's where your interests connect you with your people. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive occasional updates about our projects, craft & maker features. The vibrant ‘Akpukpa’, the complex ‘Ahia’ and lastly, the intricate ‘Ogbanaonweya’. out West Africa for its unique weaving. As is typical of Akwete weaving, the cloth is noticeably wider at one end than the other. Ebira Women have been weaving Okene Cloth for centuries. Jul 3, 2017 - Late 19th century Igbo vertical broad loom from the women’s weaving industry at Akwete (southern Igbo area), present day Abia State, Nigeria. This town is renowned for and actually named after their traditional weaving methods because they produce “ Mkpuru Akwete ” which directly translates as “ Akwete fabric”. One of the main markers of African culture lies in the variety of fabrics made and worn by various tribes and groups. Akwete cloth is a special woven fabric by Igbo women in Akwete area near Aba in Abia State. Due to its weightier nature, Raffia is often used to make the masquerade outfits and warrior’s head gear. Only on her passing did her close friend, the only person she allowed to witness her weaving, share the weaving process. See more ideas about african art, african textiles, african. Young girls begin weaving cloth as soon as they are considered strong in arms. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. By 1963, it was exhibited at the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., the British Museum in the UK, and the Textile Museum of Canada. Akwete cloth is a special woven fabric by Igbo women in Akwete area near Aba in Abia State. There’s the horizontal loom used by male weavers and the vertical loom for women weavers. In the 19th century, the Abia State was a centre of the palm oil and palm kernel trade. The motifs are named after their appearance and often play a role in social status. Basden (1966) referred to it as women’s work perfected by the spinning of cotton and weaving the thread into cloth. The Akwete craft manages to pass on the tangible history, while easily adapting to modern styles and expressions. In Umuagbai-Ndoki – River state, cloth weaving is called “Akuruaku” (Ekeke 2007), while in Ndoki – Abia state; it is called “Akwete” or “Aruru” meaning something woven. Akwete cloth is a handwoven textile from Igboland, Nigeria. They retained some of their pre-colonial crafts such as cloth weaving of which the Akwete fabric is a good example and has gained both national and international prominence in recent times. called Akwete cloth was n ot and is not woven only by the Akwete and, therefore, that the pr oper name o f the product should be Ndo ki cloth. The weft thread can be passed over more than one warped thread at a time to produce variations of thread colours and patterns in the woven cloth. This cloth was woven in one piece. Okene Cloth is a woven cloth, woven at the loom in Okene by the Ebira people. Although some other communities around the region so participate in this craft of cloth weaving, but Akwete is the most renowned of these weaving communities. A continuous warp thread gives a solid color background for the motifs. Dates from circa 1960-1970 and is in excellent condition. It is possible to find modern versions elaborately made entirely from rayon, silk or polyester. The importation of machine manufactured fabrics into the country which ran into millions of Naira, made the traditional handcrafted fabrics suffer big setback. Akwete cloth is a uniquely weaved cloth that originated from Akwete community in Abia State. Mar 6, 2015 - Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. The biography discussed in this paper reaches an important highpoint in the late nineteenth century when weaving in the Igbo village of Akwete underwent significant changes. Akwete fabric weaving as an indispensable need of humanity because “civilization is nothing without it”. Launched in April 2018, Ékété is an accessories brand that made its fashionable introduction with... There’s something fascinating about David Krynauw’s work. Akwete cloth weaving is said to be as old as the Igbo nation. The Designers Studio connects you to the world of Fashion & Design in Kenya. It is said that every woman in Akwete knows how to weave the geometric pat-terns which typify Akwete cloth. © 2020 The Designers Studio is Proudly Powered by Women who make Akwete cloth usually start doing so at a very young age. Lastly, the spun cotton is reserved for everyday clothes due to its comfort element. Akwete cloth: An Igbo textile art Vanguard Newspaper JULY 26, 2012 Sep 6, 2020 - Explore Sam Sam's board "Akwete cloth" on Pinterest. When it comes to patterns, there are four main ones used in Akwete cloths. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the current King of the Ashanti Kingdom wearing kente Once they returned to Ghana, they started to weave the beautiful and colourful cloth excl… It is an industry owned by women only. Akwete cloth is wider at one end and longer on one side—a feature that is either deliberate or unpreventable but that cannot be reproduced by weaving machines. The town is based in a Local Government Area with the same name. Socio-cultural importance : Because of the dexterity of the weavers who demonstrated evincingly great mastery of technique and beauty of design, the art of Akwete-cloth weaving was erroneously believed to have been introduced from Okene in Kwara state where a similar but highly developed style earlier existed. Inspired to create accessibility and knowledge of the Kenyan fashion brands, TDS was created to search, tell their story and bring them closer to the consumer. Also yellow means richness, royalty, prosperity, monetary wealth, worthwhile, glorious, precious, fertility. See more ideas about african textiles, woman weaving, museum collection. Creating characters, elaborating backstories, conveying…, #TDSCREATIVES: Guerilla couture of Roman…, only person she allowed to witness her weaving. Method of Weaving Kente. Jones. Akwete cloth weaving is said to be as old as the Igbo nation. While all cotton used in Akwete weaving was once hand spun and hand dyed by women, today, imported dyed yarns are more common, as reflected in this cloth. In 1697, the King of the Ashanti Kingdom, Osei Tutu, selected several weavers from nearby towns and villages to travel to neighbouring Ivory Coast to become experts in the complex art form.
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