Sixth grade students learned about the Yoruba people of Nigeria. A traditional cloth made by the Yoruba is the Adire Eleko Cloth. Sixth grade students used paste to draw designs on their cloth to resist the indigo, a natural plant dye. When removed from the indigo, the fabric is a yellow-green color, but as the oxygen in the air hits the fabric it changes to a deep blue.
example of adire eleko cloth |
the fabric just taken out of the indigo |
Students also tried their hand at shibori, a Japanese style of tie dye. Indigo was used with for this fabric as well!
Shibori fabric made into a banner