Are you looking for an original and sustainable idea for a children's party, baby shower or outing with colleagues? Then we have an awesome idea that definitely belongs in the greener list and deserves the originality prize: a textile dyeing workshop with natural ingredients. Onion skins, avocado seeds, rusty nails and turmeric all give off a lasting colour. And you can put that to crazy use for dyeing clothes. How? Yes, so you'll have to take that workshop at, or with Roua - she'll also come to you with love.
A textile dyeing workshop with ancient traditions
Painting with natural materials is an age-old technique that is great to learn during a workshop. Dye rompers with a mum-to-be, dye T-shirts at a children's party with vegetables that are normally on the plate or surprise colleagues with something different. We know those boat trips and bowling alleys by now... At this educational and sustainable workshop, you really learn something new that you will often talk about at home or in the pub.
Natural dyeing techniques
OK, so at Roua you will learn a lot about natural paint techniques. We previously visited her studio in Amsterdam-West and discovered back then that the possibilities with natural pigments and paint techniques are endless (view the report here). There are many different natural materials that give beautiful colours - how about the amazing indigo blue, derived from a plant - and you can also play with the duration of soaking, making fabrics darker or lighter in colour. You can stack pigments to create new colours. You can dye with or without water. Or how about creating patterns by using flowers as stamps, wrapping the garment with rubber bands or marbles. In short, the possibilities are endless with natural dyeing and Roua is happy to show you that. In short, the possibilities are plenty and Roua is happy to take you under her wing.
You can attend a workshop at Roua's studio in Amsterdam, or she will come to you on location.
About Roua's clothing workshop
Roua Alhalabi was born and grew up in Syria where her grandmother passed on her love for natural dyeing techniques. ‘My grandmother knew all about natural pigments and carpet weaving,’ she says. ‘Unfortunately, she was not able to teach me her weaving, but we did a lot of dyeing together. Later, I went to art school where - not entirely coincidentally - I also chose the textile direction. And there, during my studies, I became acquainted with natural dyeing techniques from other countries, such as India and Japan, eventually developing my own technique and sharing it in the Netherlands and Europe with fashion designers, (sustainable) companies, at schools and during workshops with enthusiastic DIYers.’
See more about Roua Atelier or follow her on Instagram.
Get started with a no buy clothing style
Besides dyeing clothes, we have many more ideas to breathe new life into clothes hanging unworn in the closet. We'll get you started with the No Buy Fashion Guide. Over a hundred pages of cool ideas on how to look nice without even buying anything. Nothing. Nope. Nada. Not even second-hand! For 9.50 euros you will have it delivered straight to your inbox and thus on your tablet or mobile phone!
Will you also join this fun community? Read this guide too and discover lots of original ideas. Because so many cool clothes are already out there! Order the No Buy Fashion Guide from our webshop!
More sustainable tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Also see: A simple recipe from Roua to dye your first T-shirt or trousers at home.
- Also check out this fun outing: A wild-picking walk in Amsterdam!
- Also fun to organise: A clothing exchange!
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
