The Natural Dyer refuses to design or make fashion at the expense of the environment and natural world. As a designer I feel it is my responsibility to avoid the depletion of the Earth’s natural resources. Drawing heavily on nature for inspiration, I work with naturally foraged materials. Each piece is crafted by hand; my cloth is dyed with naturally occurring pigments, fabric is sourced from used materials and recycled garments.passionate about re-using beautiful fashion details; the old, discarded “unwanted” clothing often contains charming treasures such as buttons, lace, trims and even boning. I take influence from the mid 20th century; the government model for WWII was to ‘Make do and Mend’, which forced society to be more sustainable. Clothing was valued, made to last, passed down the generations, repaired, mended and re-purposed. I have always had a love for colour, and it’s crucial that my clothes encompass this. I feel a sense of pride that I have engaged with nature to create my own plant-based dyestuffs, sourced and produced locally and without toxicity. Creating my own natural dye colours means I am rejecting commercially available, chemical based dyes. Working in unique and unpredictable ways leads me to bespoke outcomes which cannot be recreated. This uniqueness leads to an emotional connection with my work for me, the designer, and for the viewer and consumer. Creating a collection that doesn’t look stereotypically ‘sustainable’ is extremely important. I aim to make clothes that people want to buy; the surprise is that the clothes are conscientiously produced. I am proud to put the intellect, labour and energy in to being a conscientious designer committed to creating work I fully believe in. It’s my responsibility to decrease the footprint of my fashion products and be completely transparent in my practice.
