Dyeing Process
Dyeing with plants is quite a long process but it is very rewarding. No colors are more beautiful than botanical colors.
The first step of the process consists in scouring your piece of fabric and meticulously preparing it with a specific mordant which depends on the plant or extract you decide to dye with. Then comes the dyeing moment and no matter how different the process can be depending on the plant you want to dye with, the result is always wonderful.
I grow my own dyeing plants in my dye gardens. I also forage invasive species and very common wild plants destined to be destroyed (clearing,pruning,gleaning acorns and branches on the floor). I sometimes use exotic plant extracts.
As natural dyeing needs a large amount of water, I optimize every steps of the process (from the fabric preparation to the moment of the dyeing ) in order to save water. I work with people from my neighborhood, restaurants and shops involved in up-cycling for instance, so I can use their food waste ( like onion peels or avocado stones…) in my dyeing process, .
Natural dying is a peculiar and important part of the studio activity. Dyeing my own fabrics means a lot to me as I feel completely independent and free to create one special color for one specific item for instance.
It is also a slow and peaceful handcraft which means very long walks on the countryside or in forest, foraging wild flowers, wondering what color they may give and learning more and more about Botanic.
Then comes the moment to calm down and slowly work in the studio with the dye pot to make experiments and researches. To study too, and understand how it works and then be able to create your own true colors.
