ABSTRACT

 Hand-woven textiles are those textiles produced by the use of hands with the help of handlooms. Hand-woven textiles are used for protection, decoration and exhibition of culture. The study examined the economics of hand-woven textiles in the production and utilization cycle in Abia State. The processes involved in the production of hand-woven textiles in Abia State were determined. Factors as well as the problems that affect the production of hand-woven textiles in Abia State were highlighted. The staff of the Ministry of Arts and Culture Umuahia and the Textile Centre Aba were selected as the producers while the senior female non-teaching staff and female academic staff of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike were selected as consumers using purposive sampling method. Validated pilot tested structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents listed above by simple random method. One hundred and fifty completed questionnaires were returned. Frequencies and Chi-square test were used in analyzing the data. Results also showed that in the utilization of hand-woven textiles by the senior female non-teaching staff and Academic staff indicated that hand-woven towels are very strong and they last longer than mechanically woven towels as recorded by the senior female non-teaching staff (2.4) and female Academic staff (2.4) of MOUAU. There is a significance differences between the responses given by senior female non-teaching staff and female academic staff of the University on whether the hand-woven textiles are more economically woven ones (specifying only Akwete). There is also a significance difference between the responses given by the staff of the Ministry of Arts and Culture umuahia and Textile Centre Aba on whether hand-woven textile production is profit oriented. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that government should establish more institutions and weaving centers where workers should be trained in hand-woven textile production. This would improve and also increase the production of hand-woven textiles, which will result in the economic development of Nigeria.