Nigerian Journal of Clothing & textile (NIJOCT), Vol. No.1, 2015 DESIGN AND MARKETING OF TEXTILE AND CLOTHING IN NIGERIA Ibeto F.O. and Ogunduyile S.R. Industrial Design Department Federal University of Technology, Akure Ondo State, Nigeria. fibeto2009@gmail.com ABSTRACT The origin of textile and clothing in Nigeria predates modern history just like in many other cultures of the world, textiles were produced in Nigeria long before European contact.There was evidence that a bundled fibre was woven in Ugbo-Ukwu in the present day Anambra State over 1000 years ago and later in the thirteenth century, there was also evidence that cotten was woven in Benin in Edo State. Dyeing also has a long tradition in Nigeria, Kano and Abeokuta feature prominently as fabrics dyeing centres in Nigeria. Design is a process of purposeful visual creation. It is the arrangement of independent parts to create a co-ordinated form. Design is a human cognitive reaction, implies conceptualization, innovation and creativity which translates to the creation of visual structures and organization of forms and motifs. In Nigeria, there are many peculiar designs by which certain ethnic groups are identified. The ‘akwete’ cloth for instance, is produced mainly in Akwete; a town in South-eastern Nigeria (Igbo land). Adire, is a name given by the Yorubas to their indigo resist dyed cloth. They also produce the aso-oke cloth by which they have gained world-wide recognition. The Fulanis are known for the production of a woven cloth called ‘khassa’ while the Ibibios produce the ‘ukatt’. At some point, fabric becomes clothing. Clothing traditions vary with each ethnic group. Each society has its own name for different types of clothing made out of traditional cloth peculiar to that people. Textile marketing is achieved in Nigeria through extensive distribution (place) of products, the product itself, price and promotion. There are two main channels of distribution employed by textile industry in Nigeria, the direct method and the indirect methods. The major serious competition facing the textile industry in Nigeria is the significant quantity of textile products entering through unrecorded trade, mainly from the Asian countries. Because the products are brought in illegally, the relevant duties are not paid thereby making the products even cheaper than products made in Nigeria.