Natural Dyes Workshop, 2023

Mordant Techniques and Color Creation in Textiles


The workshop, held in the Department of Textiles in the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design, focused on studying natural dyeing techniques using five different types of dyeing materials on fabrics such as wool, cotton, and silk. These fabrics originate from both animal and plant sources, allowing for a comparison of the different color reactions on each material.

Lasting five days, the workshop included stages such as composing dye recipes, pre-treating fabrics (using five different mordants), extracting and cooking natural mixtures, and "after-treatment" with two additional compounds.

Students created an impressive palette of 265 unique colors and over 2,000 textile samples, showcasing diverse shades and color reactions, all of which were documented in a personal booklet that each participant took home at the end.