Eco Printing is a sensuous dye technique true to its name. It is both environmentally friendly and works like a dye print in which the image and energy of the dye plants are transferred directly to the textile. You’ll learn to work with wild harvested plant materials (leaves, flowers, bark, etc.) in a beautiful and expressive way. We’ll use this magical technique to make living, breathing textiles that have personal meaning and are deeply connected to the places we call home. You’ll finish class with a merino/silk loop scarf and a couple of pure silk pieces that can be used in a variety of ways.

Before about 150 years ago, all dyes were natural dyes, made from plants, minerals, and insects. Peoples all over the world developed techniques for working with these dyes to make color and pattern on textiles over thousands of years. Now almost all dyes are synthetic, and the clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world, second only to the oil industry. There are still places where natural dyes are used today, and many people are working together worldwide to learn these ancient practices before this vibrant knowledge is lost.