Adire African Textiles is a London based gallery dedicated to exploring the vintage textile traditions of sub-Saharan Africa. We work with a network of partners throughout West Africa to source exceptional museum quality textiles for clients worldwide that include leading museums, private collectors, and interior designers.

Adire is the name given to indigo dyed cloth produced by Yoruba women of south western Nigeria using a variety of resist dye techniques. Adire translates as tie and dye, and the earliest cloths were probably simple tied designs on locally-woven hand-spun cotton cloth much like those still produced in Mali.

Adire is the name given to indigo dyed cloth produced by Yoruba women of south western Nigeria using a variety of resist dye techniques. Adire translates as tie and dye, and the earliest cloths were probably simple tied designs on locally-woven hand-spun cotton cloth much like those still produced in Mali.

Classic hand drawn starch resist indigo dyed Yoruba adire eleko cloth with a design called eye-pe, or “all the birds are here”, a traditional Ibadan adire design. As well as various birds including chickens and pigeons the pattern depicts crocodiles, …

Unlike hand drawn adire cloths, here the starch resist was applied through tin stencils that were made from the this metal lining of tea chests. From a private collection assembled in Nigeria in the early 1970s.

Adire African Textiles is a London based gallery dedicated to exploring the vintage textile traditions of sub-Saharan Africa. We work with a network of partners throughout West Africa to source exceptional museum quality textiles for clients worldwide that include leading museums, private collectors, and interior designers.

A superb quality version of the classic hand drawn starch resist indigo dyed Yoruba adire eleko cloth design called Ibadandun or “Ibadan is sweet”. Motifs include various birds including chickens and pigeons, chameleons, drums, cocoa pods, pillars, and combs.

Dating from around 1970 this cloth is a version of a classic adire design called “Olokun,” after a Yoruba orisa deity associated with good fortune, and in particular with wealth from the sea. In excellent condition.

Adire African Textiles is a London based gallery dedicated to exploring the vintage textile traditions of sub-Saharan Africa. We work with a network of partners throughout West Africa to source exceptional museum quality textiles for clients worldwide that include leading museums, private collectors, and interior designers.

Adire African Textiles is a London based gallery dedicated to exploring the vintage textile traditions of sub-Saharan Africa. We work with a network of partners throughout West Africa to source exceptional museum quality textiles for clients worldwide that include leading museums, private collectors, and interior designers.