Ekwutolom Chigozie, Akwete weaver

Ekwutolum Chigozie, Akwete weaver pictured in her workshop. Akwete cloth is a unique hand woven fabric of Igbo women of Akwete in Abia State, Nigeria. The fabric was originally referred to as “Akwa Mmiri” (Cloth of the water) which means towel and mostly woven by the women on a vertical loom. Akwete cloth weaving is said to be as old as the Igbo nation. Akwete cloth comes in different patterns and motifs. Most motifs are found on one side but can also be seen on both sides, and they are named according to their appearance, The patterns ranges from plain stripped to heavy patterned cloths. In the olden days, the weavers claim that certain motifs are revealed to them by the gods, and as a result, no weaver is allowed to copy the design and it therefore dies with its owner.