Toxic waste from synthetic dyes is a global problem.
In 2010, while raising my three young daughters in Northern California, I started a business selling handcrafted textiles made from 100% organic & sustainably sourced fibres. I began by selling small orders to a handful of select stores in the Bay Area.
I'll always remember the day I received my first large wholesale order from Christiane, owner of Clic in N.Y. After that, the orders slowly started building. During the day, I cared for my girls while working part-time. At night, I sewed & fulfilled orders.
14
Years Of Natural Dyeing Experience
8,750+
Number Of Products Hand Dyed With Plants
7
Online & In-person Workshop Attendees
1024+
Commercial Natural Dye Experience
During this time, a friend asked me to start teaching workshops at 'The Handcraft Studio School' in the East Bay, which is where my love of sharing this magical process originated.
In 2014, myself & my 3 daughters left California. We returned home to Ireland & started over. Up to that point, my entire business was centred around American suppliers. It no longer made sense to source from The U.S. & I had to reimagine my entire business.
The more I learnt about the environmental impact of synthetic dyes, the stronger my commitment to create sustainable products grew. I decided to combine my love of textiles with the practices of natural dyeing to create a business with minimal environmental footprint.
I had never experienced anything as captivating as the magic of Indigo. For the next four years, I worked exclusively with Indigo, incorporating small pieces of indigo-dyed textiles into my work.
I began to feel limited by the colours of fabric that I could source. While the fibres were natural, the colours came from chemicals & were synthetically dyed. So, I decided to give natural dyes a go and started with Indigo. Little did I know the rabbit hole I was about to fall down! While I had experience with many creative mediums,
IT’S GREAT TO MEET YOU
Business was thriving and then the pandemic hit. I, like many others, was forced to reassess what was working and what wasn't. It became clear that connecting with others & sharing what I was learning about this incredible process was where my fulfilment lay. I decided to pause production & return to what I loved most about natural dyeing;
Hi, I'm Kathryn
In January 2016, I launched my first collection of naturally dyed textiles sold across North America, Europe, and Japan. The demand for my products exceeded my expectations, and while this is what every small business owner wants, it brought with it its own set of challenges.
the discovery & magic of plant colour!
" I never get tired of seeing others discover
the joy, beauty & alchemy of natural dyes for the first time".
What I Love About Natural Dyeing
No matter how much I learn, nature continues to surprise & inspire me with new plants & colour possibilities!
COLOUR POSSIBILITIES
SLOW & MEDITATIVE
The process is slow, methodical & considered. It connects you to the present moment, similar to meditation.
APPRECIATION FOR NATURE
Natural dyeing teaches us about the natural world, sources of pure colour & the plants growing in our localities. It is restorative, grounding & recharging!
What I Love About Natural Dyeing
Being able to dye what you want in any colour you desire is a feeling like no other!
CREATIVE FREEDOM
The pot's simmering, the dye extracting, the aromas, the chemistry & the alchemy. I love it all!
The process offers a way to unplug from the digital world while calming & relaxing our nervous systems.
CALMS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Heather
willow
Hawthorn
mahonia
cypress
walnut
ecualyptus
Black teA
madder
alder
rhubarb
pommegranate
marigold
st.johns wort
Did you know you can achieve a stunning palette of natural colour from the sources below?
Some Of The Best
Photo: Doreen Kilfeather
Photo: Doreen Kilfeather
Photo: Doreen Kilfeather
AS SEEN IN
Find out if you're making these common mistakes & learn about three areas of improvement to save countless hours while getting colours that last!
Three Tips To Improve Your Naturally Dyed Colours & Textiles
"No chemical dye has that lustre, that under glow of rich colour, that delicious aromatic smell, that soft light & shadow that give so much pleasure to the eye. These colours are alive!
VIOLETTA THURSTAN, 1878-1978
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