Botanical Dreams
Sunday, December 15th 10-1pm
This beautiful group Day Retreat will begin with a Tea Ceremony in our medicine garden.
Following the ceremony, you’ll have the opportunity to harvest your own herbs to use in steam-dyeing silk pillowcases. This hands-on process will be guided by Alisa Benfey, a textile and graphic designer skilled in Kusakizome, the traditional Japanese art of natural dyeing with seasonal materials.
Each attendee will take home 2 steam-dyed silk pillowcases
Sunday, December 15th 10-1pm
This beautiful group Day Retreat will begin with a Tea Ceremony in our medicine garden.
Following the ceremony, you’ll have the opportunity to harvest your own herbs to use in steam-dyeing silk pillowcases. This hands-on process will be guided by Alisa Benfey, a textile and graphic designer skilled in Kusakizome, the traditional Japanese art of natural dyeing with seasonal materials.
Each attendee will take home 2 steam-dyed silk pillowcases
Sunday, December 15th 10-1pm
This beautiful group Day Retreat will begin with a Tea Ceremony in our medicine garden.
Following the ceremony, you’ll have the opportunity to harvest your own herbs to use in steam-dyeing silk pillowcases. This hands-on process will be guided by Alisa Benfey, a textile and graphic designer skilled in Kusakizome, the traditional Japanese art of natural dyeing with seasonal materials.
Each attendee will take home 2 steam-dyed silk pillowcases
WHAT IS NATURAL DYE
Natural dyes are colorants derived from vegetables, fruits, plants, leaves, flowers, bark, roots, fungi, lichens, minerals, and insects.
Natural dyes provide a wide range of colors, as each dyestuff reacts differently when introduced to different fibers and minerals. Natural dye is not permanent and fades over time with exposure to light and water, however, you will find beautiful shades and depth of colors in natural dye that synthetic dyes can’t recreate. Each naturally dyed piece will always be unique.
Natural dye is not just about colors. It is a common belief that natural dye can be medicinal when using herbal plants. In Japan, textiles dyed with turmeric are believed to be good for your skin and have natural insect repellent.
STEAM DYE (AKA ECO PRINTING)
Natural dye steam dyeing is a creative and sustainable textile dyeing technique that utilizes natural materials, such as plants, flowers, and roots, to impart color to fabric. In this method, the dye sources are bundled together with the fabric, allowing their pigments to transfer during the steaming process. The heat and moisture from the steam help release the dyes, resulting in vibrant and intricate patterns on the fabric. The outcome is often unique, reflecting the specific combination of dye materials and the way they interact with the fibers, celebrating the beauty of nature and traditional craftsmanship.
Historically, many cultures utilized local flora for dyeing textiles, and the bundle technique was developed as a way to create rich colors while minimizing water use. The method is particularly prominent in regions where plants with strong dye properties were readily available.
In Asia, particularly in Japan and India, similar methods have been used for centuries, showcasing intricate patterns and vibrant hues in traditional garments. The technique gained renewed interest in the modern era as part of the broader movement towards sustainable and eco-friendly practices in fashion and textile arts.
About the instructor:
Alisa Benfey is a textile and graphic designer, as well as a self-taught natural dyer, based in Los Angeles. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, she moved to the United States at 16 and earned a BFA in Graphic Design from CalArts, followed by an MFA in Textile Design from Tama Art University in Tokyo. Alisa uses natural dye as a core element of her sustainable design practice, incorporating it into her creative process and color research to explore environmentally conscious alternatives to traditional dyeing methods. She currently runs her own textile brand, IROCOH, and leads workshops throughout Los Angeles.