Natural Dyes Save the Environment

A fun, simple, and sustainable alternative to store bought chemical infused clothing is to make and use your own dye! Using plant materials that you can grow in your own backyard will help reduce pollution and waste, as well as help conserve our water supply.

The clothes we buy today usually contain several chemicals from the different types of dyes that are used. When we wash these materials that have synthetic dyes we are polluting our watersheds, ocean, and drinking water supply. Before the use of harsh chemicals people used plants, minerals, and even insect sources to dye their materials. Using these natural sources can help us create and maintain a healthy environment.

Flowers, roots, nuts, and berries are just some of the different natural materials we can use to color our fabrics. By choosing to dye your own fabrics you have the freedom to create what you love. You can learn hands-on how to make your own natural dyes at The Ecology Center. The Natural Dyes: Local Plants workshop on 3/15/15 starting at 11:00am. This is an all day class where participants will learn information on dyes, extraction techniques, history, and sustainability. This workshop is part a two class series and invites all levels of experience to join. Please note, this is a physically active class, you will be carrying dye pots and buckets, lifting, bending, twisting, walking, and working around a heat source.

If you are interested in the hands-on workshop, tickets are available on The Ecology Center’s website: $90 for members and $110 for non-members. Also, if you sign up for both parts 1 & 2 you can save $20. The proceeds support The Ecology Center’s non-profit eco-educational programs for schools around Southern California.