About L'atelier KaAy
Hello, I'm Karen
Hand-dyed Adire, at home in Canada
I loved this fabric for years before I knew its name. L'atelier KaAy is how I bring it to you: hand-dyed pieces, ready to wear.
Woman-owned · Women-run · Made for every body
My story
I'm an African woman, a mother of two, and married to an amazing man. I fell for this fabric long before I could name it, and when I finally looked it up, I found Adire: a hand-dyeing craft from Nigeria, made by hand for generations. The more I learned, the more I loved it.
The hard part was getting it. Beautiful African clothing almost always meant a custom order and a long wait, and I never understood why. Why couldn't it just be ready to wear, in your size? So I built the shop I was looking for.
There's a personal side too. At 6'2", I've spent my life in clothes that come up short, with sleeves and hems that stop too soon. If you've ever struggled to find something that truly fits, I understand. As a girl, I always said I'd open a store that carried sizes for everyone, and this is it: every piece is cut generously, for real bodies.
Today, L'atelier KaAy is woman-owned and women-run.
What makes Adire different
Adire isn't printed, it's dyed by hand. In Nigeria, artisans tie, stitch, or wax the cloth before it goes into the dye, so the covered parts stay pale and form the pattern. Each technique has a name: oniko, batik, aso-oke. Every one is done by hand, one length at a time.
That's why no two pieces are exactly alike. A colour that runs a little deeper, an edge where the wax cracked: none of it is a flaw. It's the sign a person made it, not a machine.
For every occasion, not only the grand ones
African clothing has a way of getting saved for the big days, like a wedding or a ceremony, then sitting in the closet the rest of the year. I wanted to change that.
Every piece is easy to wear and easy to style, cut for comfort and quiet elegance. It works at a gala, and just as well at a picnic.
- Lounging at home
- Brunch
- The workspace
- Weddings
- Church & services
- Picnics
- Summer gatherings
- Vacation
- Galas
- Ordinary Tuesdays
Find your piece
Each print is made in a small run. When it's gone, it's usually gone for good.
Shop the collection
Good to know
What is Adire, and how is it different from wax print?
Adire is a traditional Yoruba resist-dyeing craft from Nigeria. The cloth is tied, stitched, or waxed by hand before dyeing, so the covered parts resist the colour and form the pattern. Wax prints are machine-printed and identical metre to metre; Adire is dyed by hand, so no two pieces are the same.
Is Adire only for special occasions?
Not at all. That's part of why I started the shop. The pieces are relaxed and easy to style, so one works for a morning at home or a day at the office as well as for a wedding. Flat sandals for brunch, heels and gold for the evening. Same piece, two lives.
How do I choose my size?
Each product page has a size guide with measurements, plus the model's height and the size she's wearing. Most pieces are cut generously. If you're between sizes or very tall, email us at hello@latelierkaay.com and we'll help.
How do I care for it?
Wash cold, separately for the first few washes, and dry out of direct sun. Hand-dyed cotton softens with wear and may relax a little after the first washes, and that's completely normal.
Where do you ship, and where are you based?
We're based in Quebec, Canada, and ship across Canada and the United States, plus worldwide on request. The cloth is hand-dyed in Nigeria; the pieces are chosen and designed here.
Thank you for being here. Every order supports a woman-run shop and the artisans who dye this cloth by hand.
Warmly,
Karen, Founder of L'atelier KaAy
Contact us
Questions about a piece, your size, or an order? We'd love to hear from you.