Aso-oke and Adire: From the village square to the corporate World
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By Babalola Blessing
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Attires that set out and set the tone as well as atmosphere, paving way for homage and the call of compliments. Then, your appearance is a sneak peak into how heavy and full your Treasury is, and as a matter of fact some of these attire are attached to royalties and Kingsmen who are of the upper echelon in African society. The quality of your wear is the quantity of your wealth.
The irony is, back then men seemed to have variety of designers to cut out of their aso-oke, compared to women who are limited to Buba, iro, ipele and gele, maybe their variety of iyun on their necks and wrist was the class distinguishing feature; an identity of the rich and wealthy; princesses and wives of the well to do. But just Buba and Iro for special occasions, there was literally nothing else to make out of your Aso oke, even Adire.
Adire, is another fabric they emerged and is not leaving soon, maybe never. A cross cultural fabric explored by a diverse group of people tailored to suit their peculiar cultural taste. Made with white fabrics dipped into hue, patterned in different designs, various colors to project its beauty.
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African transposed, our fashion sense evolves with us as technological advancement blends with changes in society standards and activities. Aso oke from being mostly found in the palace and amongst the well to do, to the village market square for maiden festival, then to an unmatched rival in Owanbe parties. However, several other fabrics accompany the civilization and technological advancement trend, a wave of adaptability and civilization. Fabrics like lace, Ankara, guinea, brocade amongst others.
Nobody had a white collar job when Aso oke was the only prestigious attire, nor was anybody sitting in offices giving instructions and orders in Adire “toke tile” . A joint office it was, a collaboration was it, Farming with most farmers dressed in the casual Adire; hunting with hunter's gear some made of animal skin, tapping palmwine maybe in Adire and fila to match too, Women in the market place with their goods in the iro and Buba made from Adire, if the “Iyaloja” appear in Aso oke, a sign of royalty it will be.
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Things changed, so many things changed. The women at the market square are now holding markers, standing before a whiteboard instructing learners. The men on the farm are now behind desks, before files, holding pens and counting mint. Some in coats with stethoscopes and thermometers, taking the place of the traditional medicine men and midwives who had no need to leave their home to practice.
And there lies the need for a new fashion sense, a change in wardrobe. A switch from Buba to shirt, from kembe to fitted trousers for both He and She, the need for tie on the white collar and the need for shoes to match. But it didn't stop there.
Several years later, we are still on the move. Adire the casual then, is now designed in shirt and round neck tops suitable for any form of occasion both casual and cooperate with the Right combination. Its casual mode is still maintained by some, who find it easy to design it into wide leg pants or fitted pants matching it with the Right shirt and a pair of sneakers or loafers; an appearance that commands presence for the same fabrics that had once dine with mother earth to produce food and cash crops. The same Adire on market women haggling the price of okro and maize, now rest comfortably on the body of a CEO well styled even in a suitable suit or tuxedo.
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Aso-Oke is not behind the clock as well, following the tide of time, tying a tie with tie and dye beyond being a head tie. It has left the palace to the market square, from the market square to owanbe, from owanbe to the corporate world. Have you seen a white collared worker in a well tailored Aso oke Suit or Blazer blazing the blend of culture and baddie even in a batik? Bags, clutches and purses made with Aso-Oke, have you seen them around? Even shoes, neck ties and berets from the same prestigious fabric, have you seen any?
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They are all over, Aso-Oke and Adire the fabric of our fathers days fabricated into our fashion world, fascinating and fanning the flame of future fashion features. This is proof that what you call fashion today is an evolution of the fashion of centuries before now, and what it is now will evolve as the next generation is being ushered in. They don't fade, but with time , they evolve .
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