Abstract

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Indigo dyeing is far from thriving in Nigeria and therefore youths in Kano metropolis includingtraditionalindigo dyers of “Kofar Mata” follow the trend of dyeing textiles with synthetic vat dyes andchemicals.Currently, competition with the Chinese and high cost of chemicals are likely to render over 30,000dyersand traders jobless. The aim of the research is to determine the challenges and prospects of vat dyeingoccupation in Kano metropolis, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered among1387dyersselected purposively together with focus group discussions with dyers and vendors from‘Kantin-Kwari’cloth market. Findings revealed that among the challenges faced by the dyers, lack of capital, highcost ofproduction, low patronage and competition with imported textiles are more prevalent. The dyers believedthat the venture/occupation was lucrative before the 3 rd quarter of 2015 basically because the Country’seconomy was better and there was little or no competition with the Chinese in the dyeing business asat thatperiod. Most of the dyers can dye over 20000 yards (> 18288 m) of fabric weekly as at then but thenumberhas reduced to not more than 400 yards (not >365.76 m) at present due to the current economy andforeigncompetition. The dyers believe that government can help revive the dyeing occupation especiallybyimproving the economy and banning importation of coloured textiles which will otherwise subject themtothe same fate as traditional indigo dyers.

Keywords: vat dyeing, challenges, prospects, Kano metropolis, cloth vendors