Inspired by fashion brand el.résidu’s eco-dye collection, in this workshop you will dye a cotton scarf (leftover textile) with pigments from flowers and spices. You will learn how to upcycle clothes and textiles and you can later apply these techniques at home to give old clothes a new life.
The scarves are made by a small organisation in India, the Shirley foundation. This foundation was started by one of el.residu’s partners. Women are given the opportunity to learn and work on their skills on the sewing machine so that they can become financially independent.
Unlike with the often polluting chemical textile dyes, you can also dye fabric naturally. Think beets, onions, bloke and spices. Ella Brouwer, fashion designer and founder of el.residu will give you an explanation of the dyeing techniques used in el.residu’s collection. You will then get to work making your own scarf with a unique print.