Natural dyeing today: From the historic to cutting edge

In celebration of the regions rich textile heritage, this webinar, the fourth in a series, leads to Leek Textile Week in September. Focusing on the textile skills for which Leek became world famous - silk, natural dyes, block-prints, these webinars weave the threads of the past into the present, spinning new connections with India and its artisans whose knowledge helped transform local industry. Through these global conversations, we explore how knowledge that shaped fashion’s past can help transform its future.
Hosted on 31st July, 2024 the insightful talks discussed aspects of natural dyeing.
The online talk and the speakers include:
• Dian-Jen Lin - Creating Bio-based Colours by Blending Tradition with Innovation
• Bappaditya Biswas - Re-earthing the arts of natural dye painting
• Ojasvi Peshawaria - Indigo Revival Project with the Women Community of Malikpur Village
• Pinky Devi - In conversation
• Host - Dr Ritu Sethi, League of Artisans
About the speakers:
Dian-Jen Lin, Co-founder and CEO of Post Carbon Lab, a biotech company developing sustainable microbial colouration for the textile industry, is equally an advocate for climate positivity and regenerative design. With more than a decade of professional experience in the design industry and a postgraduate degree in fashion sustainability, she fell in love with biology when she started a collaborative project at the Natural History Museum, London. Her broad skill-set with innate awareness of the symbiosis between humanity and nature has shaped her professional trajectory towards ameliorating the status quo through proactive engagement and silo-breaking collaborations.
Her transdisciplinary career has awarded her multiple recognitions, such as the Kering Award for Sustainable Fashion (2017), the European Social Innovation Competition (2020), The Renaissance Award (2021), Women in Innovation (2023) with media features in The Guardian, Financial Times, Forbes and Reuters.
Bappaditya Biswas one of India's foremost textile experts and has been creating masterly weaves over the last two decades, that have redefined Bengal handloom to give the textiles of the state a new look and feel. He created the brand Bai Lou and the iconic store Byloom in Kolkata. Bappaditya has travelled the world to study traditions of weaving and dyeing and has won the UNESCO Seal of Excellence. During the isolating months of Covid-19 Bappaditya studyed texts, sought expert advice, experimented with painting with natural dye ingredients like indigo, marigold, hibiscus, and more. Following the Chintz technique, exploring shades he created paintings on hand-spun hand-woven Khadi cloth that have been exhibited across India.
Ojasvi Peshawaria heads the arts and craft based outreach programs at Nila House, Jaipur, where she works on community engagement and capacity building in natural dyeing. Nila House, a not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to preserving and celebrating India's rich heritage of traditional crafts. Focused on ecologically sensitive indigenous craft practices, principally - natural dyes, hand-spun and hand-woven textiles, Nila sits at the intersection of craft, design, sustainability and community empowerment, encompassing the Indian craft value chain.
Pinky Devi is a spinner and natural dyer from Malikpur village in Rajasthan. At the age of 21, she learned cotton hand spinning on a Bardoli charkha/spinning wheel from village elders. She has been associated with Nila House since 2021. With Nila’s support, she has learned the arts of natural dyeing and through her practice has produced hand spun yarn in a variety of shades, including indigo.
Dr. Ritu Sethi, editor, Global InCH journal of living heritage, in addition to overseeing Asia InCH Encyclopedia on heritage arts, textiles, crafts of India and the wider South Asian region. Her research interests examine cultural histories of textiles, arts, crafts, their contemporary continuities, and interpretations in design, fashion, and the everyday. Author/editor of Embroidering Futures - Repurposing the Kantha; Designers Meet Artisans - A Practical Guide; (Trans: Spanish and French); Painters, Poets, Performers - The Patuas of Bengal; Handmade for the 21st Century: Traditional Indian Textiles; among other writings. She works on policy, serving on advisory boards in India and overseas, is founder-trustee, Craft Revival Trust, India, and Director, League of Artisans, UK.
Other Leek Textile Week talks series can be viewed:
• Webinar #1: Following the thread from Leek to Liberty via India: • Textiles Transformed: ...
• Webinar #2: Textile Block Printing Past and Present: • League of Artisans - L...
• Webinar #3: Following the Thread: Silk, Cotton, Flax: • League of Artisans-Lee...
Leek Textile Week is supported using public funding from National Lottery through Arts Council England. Support and funds from OUTSIDE Arts.
The Leek Textile talks are supported by Nila House, Lady Bamford Foundation