Quality Attributes of Foreign and Locally Made Ankara Fabrics Among Civil Servants in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Ankara fabric is a symbol of traditional cloth of high quality among the Yoruba. This observation led to the study of low patronage of Ankara fabric for office wear. This study examined quality attributes of Ankara fabrics (foreign and local). This study adopted a cross-sectional research design; 230 respondents from Ministries and extra-Ministerial Agencies (MDAs) in Ekiti State were randomly selected using a multi-stage sampling technique that involved random selection of eight (8) MDAs. Data were obtained through a closed-ended questionnaire and analysed using frequency counts, percentages, chi-square, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Findings show that 57.3% of employees in the study area were female, 76.5% were married, 91.7% were Christians, and 49.2% had postsecondary education. Quality attributes of foreign Ankara fabrics were ranked from highest to lowest mean score: colour fastness (x bar=3.45), texture (x bar=3.38), colour fastness (x bar=3.78),thread count (x bar=3.33), durability (x bar=3.27), fabric finish (x bar=3.23), abrasive strength (x bar=3.20), fabric density ( x bar=3.18), feel and drape (x bar=3.16), fabric width (x bar=3.13), fabric weight (x bar=3.13) crease and wrinkle resistance (x bar=3.13)and air permeability (x bar=3.09).The quality attributes of local Ankara fabrics were ranked from highest to lowest mean score: weave  (=3.00),air permeability (x bar=2.87), fabric weight (x bar=2.82), texture (x bar=2.82), colour fastness (x bar=2.81), feel and drape  (x bar=2.81), fabric finish (x bar=2.76), thread count (x bar=2.75), abrasive strength (x bar=2.75), fabric density (x bar=2.71), durability  (x bar=2.70), fabric width  (x bar=2.65), crease and wrinkle resistance (x bar=2.63). The study concluded that Ankara fabrics local and foreign, should be encouraged among Civil servants as office wear throughout the federation to support the local manufacturing sector and the emerging fashion designers.