An Appraisal of Tie-and-Dye Textile Practices Among Artisans in Abeokuta, Ogun State

Adire textile production, one of Nigeria's most celebrated indigenous craft traditions, has sustained the cultural and economic identity of artisan communities in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for generations. This study appraises the contemporary practices of tie-and-dye artisans in the Itoku market cluster of Abeokuta, examining the survival and evolution of resist-dyeing techniques, the use of synthetic versus natural indigo, and the commercial dynamics shaping production decisions. A descriptive research design is employed, with primary data gathered from 80 artisans and 20 textile traders through structured interviews and visual documentation. The study evaluates how traditional design motifs have been adapted to meet contemporary fashion demands, including export market preferences and local urban consumer tastes. The theoretical framework draws on the craft studies literature and the cultural economics of traditional textile production. Recent scholarship has highlighted the tension between heritage preservation and commercial adaptation in West African textile industries, and this study contributes a site-specific analysis from Ogun State's South West context. The study also examines the role of the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism in supporting artisan livelihoods and skill transmission. The challenges of chemical dye health risks, market competition from imported fabrics, and limited access to quality control training are assessed. Findings are expected to benefit the National Council for Arts and Culture, the Ogun State artisan cooperative, and researchers in indigenous textile studies. Keywords: Adire, tie-and-dye, Abeokuta, artisan, textile production