The Wild Dyery just became a 'Plastic-Free Champion'

I met with Rebekah Gillmore from Surfers Against Sewage today to discuss ways The Wild Dyery can reduce our use of planetary resources, specifically single-use plastics. I had already structured the company with sustainable ethics in mind so had addressed many issues but as plastic is such an ubiquitous substance, there were some changes we identified that mean we've been awarded 'Plastic Free Approved Status'.

Who are Surfers Against Sewage?

SAS are an environmental charity focussing on the preservation of healthy oceans worldwide. From their website, "We’re a community dedicated to the protection of oceans, waves, beaches and wildlife.  We fight long and hard to protect what we love and we won’t stop until it’s completely clean, safe and protected for everyone, forever."

Recently my social media has been full of news about their North West representative, Becks as she single-handedly brings this charity...

Our *NEW* 2019 online training dates are:-

Module 1: Colour - Mon 4th Feb - Sat 2nd Mar 2019 

Module 2: Print - Mon 3rd - Sat 29th June 2019 

Module 3: Pattern - Mon 7th Oct - Sat 2nd Nov 2019

Thanks to everyone who has been enquiring by email and social media about next year's online workshop dates and apologies for keeping everyone waiting! I'm happy to announce that registration has just opened with a FLASH SALE.

If you're one of the first lucky 50 students to book all three modules using the code: NFDFLASH150 you'll pay just £449 rather than the usual price for all three of £599 until midnight on 11th November 2018. That's a saving of £150 for the first to sign up! This offer is likely to get snapped up very quickly so please take advantage of it as soon as you can.

After 11:11:18 you can still get an Early Bird Discount until midnight on 31:12:18 by using code: NFD123EB

Paying instalments...

If you need to split the cost, you can also pay in...

Over the last few years I've become increasingly aware of the "high cost of cheap fashion" and whilst developing our online training in natural fabric dyeing, I started researching ways I could contribute to a much needed change.

We all love a bargain but following the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in 2013 when over 1000 people lost their lives due to unsafe working conditions, many of us started to understand just how our demand for cheap clothing and 'retail therapy' had deadly consequences, mainly for women in less affluent countries.

On April 24, 2013, an eight storey clothing factory in Rana Plaza, Bangladesh, collapsed killing 1,134 workers and injuring 2500. The building had been unsafe and in a state of disrepair yet because of the demand for cheap labour and fast fashion, the building owners ignored warnings and forced workers to carry on.

2013 Savar building collapse, Bangladesh. On Wednesday, 24 April 2013 in the Savar Upazila of Dhaka,...

Registration is re-opening!

*SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF APRIL AND PAY JUST £599 USING THE DISCOUNT CODE: NFDCATCHUP

Did you miss the sign up to this year's online training? Module 1 of 'Natural Fabric Dyeing: Colour, Print and Pattern' took place earlier this year but after many requests, I've decided to allow 'on demand' instant access for those of you who'd like to catch-up before Module 2 starts. 

I've had so many people emailing me to say they only just found out about the course and asking if they could sign up now, even though Module 1 has ended that I had to do something to help. They've realised too late that there's only one chance to take this once a year training and feel like they've missed the boat. It is a long time to wait until the next run in 2019, so after much deliberation, I've re-opened registration as of now!

I had to think long and hard about this because I am totally convinced that people enjoy more success if they study online with the...

Natural Fabric Dyeing: Eco Colour, Print and Pattern Online Training

OPEN CALL: are you a textile artist or maker producing beautiful work using natural fibres and plant dyes? Do you have or know of any exquisite dye journals, gardens or clothing? Are you a natural dye enthusiast who knows where to find the world’s finest practitioners of natural dyeing? The Wild Dyery will soon be showcasing the very best examples and would appreciate you contacting us via our contact page, sharing this message with those who may be interested in being featured or messaging with a link to yours or your favourite artist/makers website.

 
p.s. the samples in the picture are from my dye journal. Background, unmordanted wool gauze + woad, top stripe, mordanted wool gauze + woad and bottom stripe, mordanted silk + woad : )

I’ve yet to write about the fact that I opened a new studio this summer (I will soon!) but am skipping ahead to share some new work using flowers harvested from the studio dye garden. Back in May I planted Dyer’s Coreopsis, Dyer’s Camomile, Sumac, Hollyhocks, Woad, Madder, Weld, Lady’s Bedstraw, Angelica and Meadowsweet and 3 months later I got to use the first crop of flowers in an ecoprinting project.

I’d dyed some silk scarves using shibori resist patterns and exhaust baths from my last Eco-Spectrum workshopand whilst they were lovely, like any pieces of textiles that sit still for too long, I felt compelled to mess with them some more! I went for a forage around my favourite part of the Wirral, Thurstaston and gathered some branches of Copper Beech, some magical Mugwort (which seems to be my totem plant lately) and some rich brown Dock seeds.

I’m not going to share my entire process because I make my living as a textile teacher and whilst...

I love getting parcels! This one was my reward for pledging to support a Kickstarter campaign for new manufacturers cooperative, Community Clothing.

The cooperative was established by Patrick Grant; Savile Row tailor, 'Great British Sewing Bee' judge and one of my former drinking companions on nights out round Liverpool!

I felt compelled to support this worthwhile initiative because it addresses the injustice of zero hours contracts, overseas slave labour and exploitation within the fashion and textiles industries by creating work for employees in the UK.

The tote is really well made and BIG but to be honest, didn't appeal to my inner bohemian so had to get a dunk in the indigo dye vat.

I may have ruined the utilitarian aesthetic but it made a really good beach bag and sunbathing pillow on my hols in Cala D'Or last week and now has the scent of sun, sea, sand and Malibu factor 6!

Community Clothing have created a small range of great quality items including...

Workshops for Parents and Children Summer 2016

Reconnecting

Marcus Drummond is one such artisan. A green wood worker with a deep reverence for the environment who creates heirloom furniture entirely by hand. For those of you not familiar with green wood work, it is an ancient craft that utilises the softness of newly felled trees for carpentry with hand tools.