A monthly Natural Dye Studio workshop at St Margaret’s House in Bethnal Green is giving participants a practical way into sustainable, eco-conscious fashion – inviting them to delve into the world of plant-based pigments and a slower, more deliberate approach to making.
Led by artist and natural dyer Porscha Hill, the session begins with a ‘discharge method’ using citric acid and guar gum, in which participants apply their own designs to fabric and lift colour to reveal patterns and artwork.
Hill also demonstrated a simple alternative, often picked up on your weekly food shop, when guar gum isn’t available – lemons, which contain similar bleaching properties.
The workshop then moves into colour, introducing natural dyes including madder, indigo, cutch and weld, learning how plant-based pigment can be applied and used.
Hill said plant-based dyes can also be sourced from everyday ingredients at home, suggesting red onions or beetroot as a starting point for experimenting with colour on old garments.
Hill’s approach is rooted in low-impact making and rethinking clothing as something you can refresh and rework – rather than replace.
St Margaret’s House hosts the workshop as part of its programme of creative activities, offering community rates and a regular space for creative learning and well-being-focused activity in East London.
Watch the video below to see the workshop in action and hear more from Porscha Hill about the process and the thinking behind natural dyes in sustainable fashion.
Featured image credit: Isabella van der Putten
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