In this post, we are bringing you our wedding ASO-OKE LOOKBOOK. This is our curation of the latest and best aso-oke styles, designs, colour combinations and fabrics worn by stylish brides and grooms at top Yoruba traditional engagement introduction and weddings in Nigeria. You’ll also get to know some interesting facts about aso-oke types, the origin and production of aso-oke and more. As you know, there’s no Yoruba wedding without the couple slaying in gorgeous aso-oke outfits. In this article, we also listed some places where you can buy aso-oke, plus interesting aso-oke historical facts. Play the video below to see pictures of trendy, exotic aso-oke designs and their beautiful colour combinations (see them below).
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Introducing NaijaGlamWedding’s Aso-Oke Lookbook for Yoruba Brides and Grooms
Aso-oke is the most popular yoruba traditional wedding attire. While every woman gets excited at the thought of buying a new outfit, for most Yoruba brides, choosing a colour combination and designs of aso-oke for traditional engagement is one of the most confusing and challenging time during wedding planning. That’s because aso-oke fabrics are available in a wide array of sweet colours and designs that you’ll almost want every aso-oke you set your eyes on. After hours of analysis-paralysis of many different aso-oke colours and designs, some brides get confused and pick just any aso-oke for themselves and their husband-to-be. Hopefully, our aso-oke pictures lookbook in the video above, will inspire you as you choose the best colours, pattern design and style of your wedding aso-oke.
Origin and History of Aso-Oke Fabric
Aso oke (pronounced: AH-SHOR-OKAY) is a patterned cloth, hand-woven by the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria. Literally, aso-oke means ‘top cloth’ or ‘high cloth’ or “clothing for prestige’ / ‘prestigious cloth’(translated to English), and is a ceremonial clothing worn on special occasions during special such as chieftaincy ceremonies, parties, weddings, christening/ naming ceremony, traditional festivals and other important occasions. The aso-oke is also the cloth for royalty, worn by the Obas (Kings).
One of our Yoruba readers, Tolulope, was kind enough to let us know that the Yoruba word “Aso oke” was derived from the early name of this fabric, “Aso ilu oke”, which when translated, meant clothing from the highland. The Yoruba word “oke” in Aso-Oke refers to highland (by topography) and not social status, because the fabric was sourced from the highland part of Yorubaland (precisely, the source was Iseyin in Oyo state of Nigeria). The parts of Yorubaland referred to as lowlands (areas with low topography) include Lagos, ijebu, badagry, etc.
Today, the word, “aso-oke” has gone to also mean ‘top cloth’ or ‘clothing for prestige’ – incidentally, the Yoruba word “oke” also means TOP, and today, aside from being a clothing attire, the aso-oke was worn as a symbol, or to showcase prestige and wealth.
Here’s how cloth weaving started with the Yoruba people. Back in the days, the Yoruba people had very big cotton farms, and processing of cotton to cloth was a source of livelihood for most cotton-farming families, as they were self-contained mini-textile industries. Then, almost every family member was involved in the production line – the women and children spinned the harvested cotton into threads, and also dyed the threads into various colours. Some men and women were skilled in craft of weaving the threads into cloth – the aso-oke cloth.
The aso-oke industry and demand has since grown so big that it is no longer dependent on cotton produced within the families. Today, the production of aso-oke has changed significantly – the big cotton farms have disappeared, along with the cotton spinners and thread dyers. The aso-oke weavers now source for imported ready-made threads with which to weave their aso-oke, and they are no longer confined to weaving aso-oke cloth with cotton; they now use other types of threads including silk, rayon and shiny metallic lurex (from Japan).
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ALSO: Top 100 Latest Aso-Ebi Styles seen at Big Naija Weddings (PICTURES)
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About Stella Anokam
Hi,
I pick mint green and champagne gold for my traditional wedding but am not sure of wat color to pick for the family
Hello Bukky, that’s a pretty traditional wedding colour combo you chose. Take a look at our peach colour combinations list for traditional wedding – you are likely to find something from the over 50 colour combos I listed there.
Beautiful piece. Well-done. Permit me to correct, however that Aso oke derives Aso ilu oke, that is, clothing from the highland, ( the oke refers to highland not social status), because it was sourced from that part of yorubaland, to be precise Iseyin in Oyo state. The lowlands of yorubaland , that is those with low topography include Lagos, ijebu, badagry etc.
Thank you
Thanks, Tolulope – for reading, commenting and shedding more light on the history of the aso-oke. I loved your comment so much that I have now edited the post to include it (with credit to you, of course).
I love what I saw
Thanks
Thank you dearie.
aso oke is cute for
wedding
You’re right, Justice. Aso-oke make an elegant fashion statement when worn by couples during weddings.
aso ebi its uncommon dress it make us lukn good
Very correct, Omolara. Aso-ebi makes weddings uniquely colourful.
Aso-oke. is one of the best and most beautiful fashion
You’re right. Aso-oke are really fashionable as occasion wear.
If I want my designs (bridal hair pieces, hatinators & fascinators, hand fans) featured in your magazine, how do I go about it? Thanks.
Hi Adetoro. Welcome to NaijaGlamWedding. To have your business featured on our site, you can purchase any of our very affordable advert types. Click here to find out about them and reach more Naija brides (home and abroad) who read NaijaGlamWedding.
Hi Hadetoro. Welcome to NaijaGlamWedding. To have your business featured on our site, you can purchase any of our very affordable advert types. Click here to find out about them and reach more Naija brides (home and abroad) who read NaijaGlamWedding.
I want know more type of aso oke colours and designs
Hi Olanrewaju, we plan to release a special article on colour combinations for aso-oke and Nigerian traditional attire for weddings. If you signup to receive our site updates by email or keep checking from time to time, you will know when we finally write the article. Thanks.
Plz waiting for reply
Check your email – was sent early morning.
Plz I need some of the design Aso-oke for my traditional wedding. Thanks
Hi Nana:
Contact the aso-oke makers/ sellers we mentioned above (scroll up, the links are up there, under where we wrote: “Where To Buy Nigerian Aso-Oke Fabrics?).
Contact them directly through their websites and facebook pages. You can start with the Facebook pages of Needles and Thread Aso-oke on Facebook and Bellisimo aso-oke. Happy shopping. (Note: We are a magazine wedding website and son’t sell aso-oke. We only feature the best designs for our readers, and also mention some places we know that sell top designs).