ABSTRACT
This study focus on the embellishment of fabrics and garments using design motifs from the costumes of the Oba of Benin.The study was motivated by the need to embellish and produce fabrics and garments using the artifacts and motifs from the costumes of the Oba of Benin in batik resist technique, therefore the problem of this study, is to identify, utilize and produce some of the motifs and symbols often found on the costumes of the Oba of Benin as source of motifs toward embellishment in fabric fashion and garment enterprise in Nigeria for better appreciation and patronage. The main objectives of this study were to identify and utilize the appropriate costume in the embellishment and production of contemporary fabrics and garments and also to explore and adopt the different types of design motifs and redesign motifs and symbols from the costumes of the Oba of Benin for embellishment of modern fabrics and garments in batik. The research used explorative and experimental design method and verbal interviews, observation, internet source, photographs and questionnaire in the collection of data. Based on the analysis of the study the following findings were made : the decorations on the costumes of the Oba of Benin can be extracted as motifs to embellish and produce modern fabrics and garments. It was also found out that, it is more explorative using the decorations on the Oba of Benin as motif for the embellishment of modern fabric in batik. The redesign motifs extracted from the decorations on the costumes of the Oba of Benin is possible for the adoption on modern fabrics and the construction of modern garments, there is no restriction for anyone who may wish to conduct research on the rich culture heritage in abundance in the costume of the Oba of Benin Kingdom. In conclusion, it is recommended to other textile student the need for further study to explore other methods of fabric embellishment in textile using traditional motifs and the patronage of made in Nigeria textiles should be encourage and supported by government through awareness campaigns and orientation.