Consumers’ Preferences for Contemporary Textile to Handcrafted Textile Products in Abeokuta South Western Nigeria: A Case Study of Group Outfit (Aso-Ebi)

Handcrafted textile products include aso-oke, adire, batik and tritik. These products are made by hands, often with the use of simple tools, and generally artistic and traditional in nature. The use of handcrafted textile products as group outfits among the Yoruba to commemorate important events such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, anniversaries, and festivals is an age long culture. The cultural and socio-economic benefits attached to this phenomenon are so huge in those days. This study delved into the investigation into preference of consumers between the demand for handcrafted and contemporary textile products as group outfits, factors responsible for the low or high patronage of handcrafted textile products as group outfits, availability of uniform design of handcrafted textile products at market stores in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria. Responses were elicited from the handcrafted textile consumers in Abeokuta. All the 83 (100%) questionnaires administered to the consumers were completely returned. The data gathered were subjected to statistical analysis, using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 16 software. The findings of the study revealed that the handcrafted textile products are acceptable as group outfits among the populace because of its unparallel aesthetic, cultural, and prestigious values. However, its uses as group outfits in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria are considerably at the low ebb because of many factors. In view of the field response of consumers, there is the need for efforts to be taken by the local producers to produce in large quantity and improve on the quality material in order to breakthrough. The appreciation, patronage and uses of home-made textile products as group outfit should be encouraged because it has the potential to boost the economy of the local community in particular and Nigeria in general.