What it takes: Reviving handwoven fabrics in Nigeria

Long before big brands like Levi’s and H&M ruled the clothing scene, what you wore depended on where you were from. 

Different regions of the world had their distinct choice of dressing and techniques for making them. 

In places like Africa, this even varied by tribe and is still very much part of traditions today. 

In Nigeria, we have our fair share of cloth weavers: 

Aso-Oke in Osun, Akwa-Akwete in Abia, and Akwa-Ocha in Delta are some of the hand-woven fabrics peculiar to different states.

For generations, these fabrics have been preserved as weavers pass on their methods.  

But things are changing. The materials required for production have become difficult to purchase, and many weavers are finding it challenging to stay in business. 
 

Price crunch for weavers

In Eastern Nigeria, weavers of the Akwete —an Igbo traditional hand-woven fabric recently expressed their struggle to create the material.  

Before now, they used a combination of