Textile Production – JSS1 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (Second Term)

Textile production is the process of making cloth (fabric) from fibres, threads or finished cloth that is decorated with colour and patterns.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define textile production and key terms such as fabric, dye, resist and loom.
2. Name three Nigerian local fabrics: Tie and Dye (Adire), Batik and Aso-Oke.
3. State the steps used to make each of the three fabrics.
4. Name common types of Aso-Oke and describe each one.
5. Give reasons why local fabrics are important to Nigerians.

What is textile production?

Textile production is the process of making cloth.

• Long history: Nigerians have made fabrics by hand for a very long time.
• Cultural value: local fabrics show our art, our colours and our culture.
• Three famous examples: Tie and Dye (Adire), Batik and Aso-Oke.

What are the key terms in textile production?

• Fabric: cloth made by weaving, knitting or joining threads.
• Fibre: a thin strand from which thread is made, such as cotton or silk.
• Yarn (thread): fibres twisted together into a long strand.
• Dye: a colouring substance used to colour cloth, such as indigo.
• Resist: something that stops dye from reaching part of the cloth, such as string or wax.
• Loom: a wooden frame or machine used for weaving.
• Weaving: crossing threads over and under each other to make cloth.

What are the three Nigerian local fabrics?

There are three famous Nigerian local fabrics in this lesson: Tie and Dye (Adire), Batik and Aso-Oke.

• Tie and Dye (Adire): patterns made by tying cloth before dyeing.
• Batik: patterns made by putting wax on cloth before dyeing.
• Aso-Oke: hand-woven cloth made on a loom.

What is Tie and Dye (Adire)?

Tie and Dye (Adire) is a method of making patterns on cloth by tying it tightly and then dipping it in dye.

• Origin: it is mostly made by the Yoruba people of Egbaland (Abeokuta).
• Resist used: the ties stop the dye from reaching some parts of the cloth.

How is Tie and Dye made?

1. Pieces of white cotton cloth are tied tightly with strings, stones or seeds.
2. The tied cloth is dipped into a big pot of dye (usually indigo blue).
3. The dye cannot reach the parts that are tied tightly.
4. The strings are untied to show white patterns on the coloured background.

What are the features of Tie and Dye?

• Patterns: it usually has circles, squares or marble-like shapes.
• Traditional colour: a deep indigo blue.
• Modern colours: today, bright colours of many kinds are also used.

What is Batik?

Batik is a method of decorating cloth by using wax to block the dye from parts of the cloth.

• Resist used: wax (like candle wax) is used instead of string.
• Tools: a brush or a wooden stamp is used to put the wax on the cloth.

How is Batik made?

1. The artist melts wax and uses a brush or a wooden stamp to draw designs on white cloth.
2. The cloth is dipped into cold dye. The wax acts as a shield and stops dye from touching the cloth under it.
3. After dyeing, the cloth is put in boiling water to melt the wax away.
4. A white or light-coloured pattern appears where the wax was.

What are the features of Batik?

• Look: the patterns look more like paintings or drawings.
• Cracks: fine cracks often appear in the design when the wax breaks slightly during dyeing. This is a sign of real Batik.

What is Aso-Oke?

Aso-Oke is a hand-woven cloth made by weaving threads together on a loom.

• Starting point: Adire and Batik start with a finished cloth, but Aso-Oke is made from threads.
• Use: it is a prestige cloth worn at big ceremonies such as weddings and coronations.

How is Aso-Oke made?

1. The weaver sets up a wooden machine called a loom.
2. Threads are stretched out and woven over and under each other to make long, narrow strips.
3. The narrow strips are sewn together edge to edge to make a large piece of fabric.

What are the common types of Aso-Oke?

• Sanyan: pale brown cloth made from wild silk.
• Alaari: deep red or magenta cloth.
• Etu: dark blue cloth with tiny white stripes, like the feathers of a guinea fowl.

What is the difference between Tie and Dye, Batik and Aso-Oke?

Tie and Dye uses ties, Batik uses wax and Aso-Oke uses weaving.

Why are local fabrics important?

Local fabrics are important because they carry our art, culture and pride.

1. They are unique: since they are handmade, no two pieces are exactly the same.
2. They are durable: these fabrics usually last for a very long time.
3. They tell a story: in the old days, some Adire patterns had meanings such as wealth, peace or family.
4. They bring national pride: wearing them makes us stand out as proud Nigerians at any event.

Evaluation

1. Which local fabric uses melted wax to create patterns?
2. In which Nigerian city is Adire (Tie and Dye) most famous?
3. What is the name of the wooden machine used for weaving Aso-Oke?
4. Why is it important for us to continue making and wearing local fabrics?

Assignment

Choose either Tie and Dye or Batik. Write its steps in the correct order and name two materials used to make it.