Éki Kéré: Akwa Ibom Brand Making Everyday Wear from Raffia & Recycled Plastic

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Sustainable fashion in Nigeria has moved beyond words, and Éki Kéré, a fashion brand founded in Akwa Ibom, is proving it. At a time when most eco-fashion brands rely on theory, Éki Kéré builds directly from the source. The label uses raffia sourced from Ikot Ekpene artisans and incorporates recycled plastic into everyday garments, offering a rare balance between cultural authenticity and environmental innovation.

Founded by Abasiekeme Ukanireh, a native of Ikot Ekpene (often called “raffia city”), Éki Kéré launched in 2020 with a simple idea: that raffia, a traditional material with deep roots in southern Nigeria, could be used to design functional, biodegradable clothes without losing its indigenous identity.

The brand doesn’t only highlight raffia’s craft value; it pushes its possibilities as a fabric for everyday wear, giving Nigeria a rare example of sustainability done locally, with no overdependence on imported or trendy materials.

 

Why Raffia Still Matters in Nigerian Fashion

Raffia has always been part of cultural life in Akwa Ibom and southern Nigeria. It’s commonly seen in baskets, mats, masks, and traditional regalia. But it’s rarely used in modern clothing.

What Éki Kéré has done is different: the brand processes raffia to create wearable textures softened, dyed, and stitched into shirts, vests, skirts, and tops. The label doesn’t treat raffia as decorative but structural. Raffia becomes fabric.

This shift is essential because raffia is biodegradable, renewable, and locally sourced. Unlike polyester and other synthetic materials that take decades to break down, raffia decomposes naturally, sometimes within six months. This makes Éki Kéré one of the few Nigerian brands working with real sustainable outcomes, not marketing claims.

 

Integrating Recycled Plastic: A Practical Innovation

Éki Kéré also blends recycled plastic and upcycled cotton into its garments. While raffia forms the base, adding recycled materials improves wearability, durability, and colourfastness, key features for clothing made for daily use, not just fashion shows.

The recycled plastic is primarily processed into polyester yarns, then spun with raffia in specific collections. The result is breathable, structured clothing that holds shape without harming the environment. It’s not theoretical: the recycled blend helps reduce textile waste and addresses one of Nigeria’s overlooked issues: plastic pollution in landfills and markets.

 

Made for Everyday Wear, Not Just Cultural Shows

Many fashion labels that explore cultural materials lean toward ceremony. Éki Kéré doesn’t. The brand focuses on casual, structured, and relaxed silhouettes. Think raffia vests you can layer, fringed skirts that move easily, and tops that mix woven fabric with soft cotton or linen.

Many pieces are hand-dyed with natural pigments, sewn with zero-waste patterns, and tested for comfort. These are not stage costumes; they’re for work, home, and weekends. This is important because it repositions raffia not just for festivals or masquerades, but for the modern Nigerian wardrobe.

Read Also:

• Tubo: Nigerian Fashion Brand for Bridal and Red Carpet Masterpieces
• Elexiay: The Nigerian Brand Redefining Handmade Crochet Fashion and Knitwear

 

Locally Produced, Artisan Supported

Éki Kéré produces in small batches, working directly with artisans in Ikot Ekpene. These are not faceless producers; the brand names them, trains them, and builds around their skills. Most are women, and many come from craft backgrounds passed down over generations.

This setup helps preserve a skill set of raffia weaving, dyeing, and knotting that’s disappearing fast in Nigeria. It also avoids the common trap of importing finished fabrics and selling them as “African.” Éki Kéré is African, from raw fibre to the final stitch.

The brand’s model supports fair wages, community training, and local development, and doesn’t outsource. Every part of the supply chain stays in Nigeria.

 

Sustainability That Goes Beyond the Trend

Éki Kéré doesn’t just talk about sustainability but puts it into operation:

• 70% of the product is handmade.
• Clothes are designed to degrade without synthetics or microplastics.
• Collections are limited to reduce overproduction and waste.
• Packaging uses recycled and upcycled materials.
• Clothes are sold with aftercare instructions to extend use and encourage repair.

This makes the brand different from many others jumping on eco-fashion. The sustainability is deliberate, measurable, and built into design, not tacked on at the end.

 

Growing Recognition

Since 2021, Éki Kéré has been featured in Twyg (South Africa), Fashion & Co, and Tribe & Elan as a standout example of authentic sustainable fashion in Nigeria. It’s also listed among the top female-led eco brands in West Africa, alongside Nkwo, Hertunba, and Kílèntár.

The brand doesn’t chase runway attention. It builds collections that reflect Nigeria’s climate, crafts, and fashion needs.

 

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For more stylish insights and the latest fashion inspiration straight from Nigeria, explore our full coverage on Nigerian Fashion Trends.

 

FAQs

1. What is raffia, and why is it sustainable?

Raffia is a palm fibre sourced from the raffia tree. It’s biodegradable, locally sourced, and renewable. It breaks down quickly and doesn’t release microplastics.

2. Who owns Éki Kéré?

Abasiekeme Ukanireh, a native of Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom, founded Éki Kéré. She studied Environmental Technology and trained in sustainable fashion production.

3. What kind of clothes does Éki Kéré make?

The brand designs vests, tops, skirts, kaftans, accessories, and more for everyday wear, made from raffia and recycled textiles.

4. Where are Éki Kéré’s clothes made?

All pieces are made in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, by trained artisans using local weaving and dyeing techniques.

5. Where can I buy Éki Kéré pieces?

Éki Kéré sells through its official website and select eco-fashion stockists. Pieces are often limited-edition and handmade.