TextileConvo

thenatureinlife:

the world of natural dying at occidental arts and ecology center. this workshop has changed me and the way i look at plants.

drewkellyphoto:

I recently photographed a story on the nearly forgotten practice of making of natural dyes for The New York Times. I spent the day with writer Michael Tortorello and our expert Sasha Duerr, an instructor in the textile department at CCA, as she showed us plants that could be used to make natural dyes and even brewed up a few batches for us. Natural dyes have fallen out of common practice with the advent of synthetic dyes and their ability to be reproduced exactly. But with these synthetic dyes come a host of harmful chemicals. Aside from the environmental benefits of using natural dyes, the colors that are produced are just incredible, with so much more subtlety and range. And it was just fascinating to see the unexpected colors emerge from weeds and leaves we collected all around us. This is becoming a longer post than intended, so if you are interested in natural dyes, you should read the article or pick up a copy of Sasha’s book, The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes.

wendyfe:

Eco prints by Wendy Feldberg
Silks printed with red cabbage (blues) plus blackberry leaves/olive green, tagetes marigold/orange and green, rusted iron/black, safflower/yellow and black tea/brown).
www.wendyfe.wordpress.com

Sources of natural dyes…

flowergirlnyc:

grow-it yourself dyes

last week, we talked about dying easter eggs using natural dyes…so we were excited to read this new york times article about a new dye garden & community supported agriculture program beginning this spring in boerum hill, brooklyn. natural dyes exist all around us–colors can come from common flowers (like dahlias and marigolds), tree leaves (japanese maple, sweet gum), berries (blackberry, elderberry), herbs (mint, rosemary), nuts and shells (acorn, black walnut hulls), or barks (birch, madrone). once you finish reading the article, watch the slideshow and learn how to make your own natural dyes at home! 

kwididentity:

“Natural Dyes from Invasive Plants for Hawaii’s Sustainable Environment”
Independent Research Study Posters (Pilot study included)
Spring 2010 -Spring 2011, University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM)

Presented at the UHM College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resource’s Spring 2010 Research Symposium (pilot study), the UHM’s Honors Program Spring 2011 Symposium, and the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) 2011 conference in Philadelphia.
Award: UH Manoa Vice Chancellor’s Summer Grant for Summer 2010 (Proposal)

Full research and pilot research available upon request.