The Dye Program is the collective's effort to establish a local industry centred around the cultivation, harvest, and production of organic and mineral dyes and pigments. The program seeks to foster a shared culture of love of colour and pride in craft among both members of the collective and partners within the community. The dye program aims to serve as a means to both better understand the plants, fungi, lichens, and minerals that surround us while also providing the materials to support local artists in transitioning away from the use of toxic synthetic materials.
- The critical flaws of synthetic dyes and fibres; from the supply chains, production methods, wearing, and disposal
- The desire to preserve and expand a marginalized craft that has been displaced by the adoption of synthetic materials
- Pursue a program that can provide a bridge between urban and rural growers, connecting both with centre's of production and craft
- Establish a local community of dye growers in Hamilton and the surrounding region
- Establish the infrastructures and facilities needed to produce high quality dye extracts for sale
- Produce dyes, dyed fibres, and pigments to support collective operations and local artists
- Create methods of production and processing that enables the collective to extract value from invasive species and food waste
Dye Growers Network
A local network of growers propagating and cultivating dye plants.
Invasive Dyes Project
A project dedicated to the utilization of invasive plant species as dye stock.
Food Waste Dyes Project
A project dedicated to the utilization of food waste as a dye stock
Fungal Dyes Project
A project dedicated to the utilization of both foraged and cultivated fungi as a dye stock
- Identifying dye stocks
- Harvesting dye stocks
- Propagating dye stocks
- Cultivating dye stocks
- Producing dye baths
- Extracting tannins
- Applying tannins
- Producing mordants
- Applying mordants
Primary Products
The primary products of this programs processes are:
- Dye baths
- Dyed fibres
- Dyed textiles
- Dye extracts
- Lake pigments
- Mordants
- Tannin extracts
By-Products
The by-products of this programs processes are:
- Waste water
- Spent dye stock
- non-dye plant and fungal material
Organic Dye Operations
- Miawa
- An organic dye operation out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Notable Elements:
- Long history of direct connection to cultivators overseas, particularily in India
- Production Dyeing
- Operates a textile school
- Notable Products:
- Dye Stocks
- Dye Extracts
- Liquid Dyes
- Tannin Extracts
- Mordants
- Fabrics and Mordanted Fabrics
- Kits & Bundles
- Books
- Botanical Colors
- An organic dye operation based out of Seattle, Washington, USA.
- Notable Elements:
- Production Dyeing
- Supports a local network of regenerative farmers
- Notable Products:
- Dye Stocks
- Dye Extracts
- Liquid Dyes
- Tannin Extracts
- Mordants
- Fabrics and Mordanted Fabrics
- Kits & Bundles
- Books
- Green Matters Natural Dyes
- An organic dye operation based out of Lancaster Country, Pennsylvania, USA
- Notable Elements:
- Notable Products:
- Focus on overdyeing of existing garments
- Focus on services and community dye baths over dyeing supplies
- Dye plant seed packs