Tie the wrapper wrongly and you’ll discover that you won’t walk ten steps without it getting in your way and pulling you to the ground. There’s an art to tying a perfect wrapper – especially the Igbo double wrapper. The most difficult part of tying the two-piece wrapper is getting the inner wrapper right so that you are comfortable walking in it.
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Skirt-Wrappers or ‘No-Tie Wrappers’: Modern and Easy Twists to the Nigerian Wrapper Attire
There’s an easy way for women or girls who do not want the hassle of tying or knotting wrappers and that’s skirts or gowns sewn to look like wrappers. Some tailors and fashion designers have perfected this twist that some look very believable as if the wearer manually tied the wrappers.
a. Tulip/ Knot Wrapper Style: First, we saw the Tulip or Knot-Wrappers which you can tie manually to look like a skirt (as you can see in the first video above). Next, our talented fashion designers upped things a notch by sewing these tulip-style wrappers and they looked like it was tied from scratch. This is the first attempt at Nigerian fashion designers trying to make no-tie wrappers and today there are skirt and gown styles of no-tie wrappers.
b. Skirt and Wrapper or Gown and Wrapper Style: The recent, modified double-wrapper style in Nigeria included the skirt-wrapper, which is sewn like the Western wrap skirt. This wrapper style doesn’t require a learning curve and is loved by both the older and younger women alike.
The inner wrapper is usually in a mermaid-style/ fish-tail style skirt or gown. Then a piece of the wrapper is tied over the skirt or gown to make it look like you’re wearing double-layered wrappers. The finished look is a double-wrapper: on the outside, it looks like you’re wearing a two-piece wrapper popular with Igbo women. This wrapper style is common among younger brides and they usually make it george skirt or gown or aso-oke gowns for it.
This modern wrapper style common among young women and girls in the Eastern and Niger-Delta part of Nigeria, as well as Igbo women. This wrapper style is also favoured by older women, as well as brides-to-be who use it as their traditional wedding attire. In spite of the popularity of the no-tie wrapper attire trend, the classic, traditional way to tie wrappers still reigns supreme.
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Classic Nigerian Wrapper Styles for Women
They are two classic ways Nigerian women tie their wrappers, and the wrapper style is characteristic, or an identity, of specific geographic regions in Nigeria. So, just by looking at the style a woman ties her wrapper, you can tell what part of Nigeria she is from.
1. YORUBA STYLE WRAPPER: The single wrapper style is the way the Yorubas and Hausas tie their wrappers. The Yoruba style wrapper is a single piece of cloth/ wrapper, called “Iro” (in Yoruba language) is worn over a classic, long-sleeved blouse, known as ‘buba”. The Iro and Buba are often worn together and called “Iro and Buba”, usually sewn with fabrics of lace, the traditional hand-woven cloth (Aso Oke) and even ankara (African prints),
2. IGBO STYLE WRAPPER (Two-Piece / Double Wrapper): The double-wrapper style or two-step wrapper or layered wrappers, consisting of two-piece wrappers, each piece layered over the other, is how the Igbo women and women from the Middle-belt and South-Eastern Nigerian states tie their wrappers to community meetings and occasions. The Ibo double wrapper is often worn over stylishly sewn blouses (often of lace fabric) and an Ichafu (or Gele head-tie). The Igbo women wear double wrappers in george fabric, ankara (Vlisco Hollandais, ABC or other).
More About the Nigerian Women Wrapper Fashion
The Nigerian wrapper is one that the Western (Oyinbo) fashion will never replace because it is loved by women of all ages, even worn by women in other West African countries.
Every bride-to-be needs to learn how to tie a perfect wrapper because, after you’re married, you’ll be required/expected to tie wrappers to a Nigerian occasion, event, town meetings and even to Church (nothing looks more glamorous than showing up in a wrapper, Gele, and a gorgeous statement beaded necklace. You’d look out of place in some big occasions, wearing western fashion.
By the way, in Nigeria, the men also tie wrappers as a cultural attire – well, not all Nigerian men, but those from the Eastern (Igbos) and South-Eastern (Niger Delta) also tie wrappers to traditional/ cultural occasions and events. And they look really gorgeous, often in George (fabric) wrappers. You can check out our features of stunning George wrapper designs and blouses here.
Takeaway: Tying the Nigerian Wrapper
So, there you have it on the 3 different styles of tying wrappers in Nigeria. Be sure to practice over and over with the steps in the video tutorials, until you become perfect to tie your wrapper yourself on your traditional marriage ceremony day.
Now, tell me in the comment section below – which of the above Nigerian wrapper tying style do you think you would rock on your introduction ceremony and/ or traditional engagement day – the knot wrapper? the Igbo double wrapper or the Iro?
that is great keep it up
Thanks.
my name is melody my wedding is coming up soon, my colour are gold pink n purple dose colour matches
Hello Melody. Those are a matching colour combination. Ride on.
Hi there,
Absolutely great to have these 3 tutorials joined together. Have a question though, how do you determine the size of a wrapper? Are there standards for it? I normally use a 2 yard piece of fabric but i cant make the twist knot look great with that. Any tips/ advice is highly appreciated.
Hello Nanda, thanks for your feedback. I’m happy to know that you like these ‘how to tie various African wrapper’ tutorials. To answer your questions: the standard size for a single wrapper is 2 yards. However, that is not very sufficient for some CURVY, BIG African/ Nigerian women – and they have to either cut their wrappers to about 2 and half yards or a little less; OR sew-in some more fabric to the inner side of the wrapper. So, if you find that your 2 yards fabric is not making a-looking nice knotted/ twisted wrapper, I suggest that you find a tailor to add more fabrics to it. And you may also want to be buying new wrappers in 2 and half yards or 2 yards and 1-quarter (of a yard). Have fun tying a perfect OLEKU twist-style wrapper.
The inner wrapper is usualy 2 yards while the outer one is 2 yards and 8 inches. Thats the standard. The excess of the six yards of the cloth is sewed on the top of the outer one. If you are very plus size or slim then you need to increase or reduce the standard length. Goodluck.
Wow! Thank you, Omolola, for stepping in there.
Hello stella, pls I can’t watch the tutorial video pls can u send it to my email? Tnks
Hi Bolanle, sorry about that. I just rechecked now and all the videos are working (playing) perfectly. The problem could be from your device (tab or phone or computer). So I suggest that you try watching from a different device – I am sure it will play.
Hello Stella,
Is it ok to wear george wrapper with buba . Pls I need ur answer urgently.
Hi Helen, I have never seen George fabric sewn as iro and buba. However, fashion is all about a trend-setter fashionista taking a risk to put her inner creativity out there – if you have the guts (and if it really looks great, others will follow you). So, you may want to try it – even if it’s not currently worn that way.
Hello Stella,
So nice to read from you. I have sent the pics.
Hiya Angel. So good to ‘se’ you again. Okay, I will check my email and reply you. Thanks a lot.
Hi Stella,
Happy New year to you, dear. I was able to perfectly tie the two wrappers during the Xmas period. Thanx for the awesome tutorial and even the head tie . How do I post the pictures?
Hey Angel! So happy to see you – happy new year oo. I am so glad that the video tutorials on our site helped you perfect your skills with tying two wrappers and Gele during the Christmas. You can email me the pictures via email.