WorkLAB #5: Natural Dying

In this hands-on WorkLAB, participants explored plant-based colour and material-led design through dyeing, spinning, and experimentation. We dyed cotton bags using weld, one of the oldest and most lightfast natural yellow dyes, learning how binding techniques and iron modifiers can shift tone and create pattern.

Alongside dyeing, we were introduced to hand spinning with spindles, working with local raw wool to understand fibre behaviour, twist, and tension. The session also included playful experiments with plant-based watercolours and pH shifts, revealing how colour can change and respond through simple chemical processes.

Participants left with a naturally dyed cotton bag and a practical introduction to natural dyes, fibres, and colour as a living, responsive material system.