Natural Dyes
3 articles
Artisans & Craft
Natural Dyes Explained: Three Stages from Plant to Fiber, and Why the Craft Is Returning
Natural dyeing involves a three-stage process: preparing fibers with mordants, extracting color from plants, and then dyeing the fiber. This ancient craft is experiencing a revival driven by sustainability concerns and modern innovations.
Aisha Bakri·October 29, 2026
Artisans & Craft
Cochineal, Madder, and Indigo: Three Dyes That Carried Wealth, Status, and Identity
Pre-industrial textiles derived their meaning from color, with cochineal, madder, and indigo dyes illustrating how origin, production, and trade encoded wealth, status, and identity.
Aisha Bakri·October 24, 2026
Artisans & Craft
Annalise Neil's cyanotype art uses natural dyes and mixed media
Annalise Neil's 'Littoral Talisman' (2026) isn't just a photograph; it's a cyanotype print infused with madder root, chestnut tannins, and strawberry leaf tea, then woven and embroidered.
Ikaika Kalua·June 12, 2026