Lately I have been getting feedback that the traditional natural dye methods that I have been experimenting with take too long. I am not really sure what to say to that. Processes take time and with time, the product becomes more valued and admired. An analogy I would say is the process of making wine? The longer it ferments, the more robust the taste of the drink. Well, I was leafing (no pun intended!) through India Flint's Eco Colour Book (a wonderful gift from a generous friend) and found hapazome, or leaf dye in Japanese. Hapazome involves transferring the colours and the image of the plant material directly onto the fabric or a piece of paper. In this case, the dye is not "integrated" with the fibers but merely placed on the surface.
To be honest, it does look very pretty because plants such as the blue pea flower, or the red leaf hibiscus give bright colours. This was unexpected because I tried an immersive bath with red leaf hibiscus and I got an abysmal grey. With Hapazome, you can even lay out the plant material like a drawing and stitch over them with embroidery work like I have done here. Doesn't it look dainty? I'm very pleased with the result.
Will it last?
I have used soya milk and alum to prepare the fabric before hammering away. Others have suggested using soda ash to mordant the fabric. Nevertheless, the colours will fade and the image will smudge if you transfer it to water. So, the suggestion is not to wash it at all. It works perfectly as a collage of colours to hang up in the living room.
Workshop at The Green Collective SG
Hapazome is another way of transferring colour to different materials. As you can see from the picture below, the best part is you get to transfer the actual plant print too. On top of that there is the added advantage of relieving stress through pounding the leaves and flowers using a hammer or a stone. It sounds very easy but there are a lot of tips and tricks that I will share with you at my workshop at The Green Collective SG. The workshop is happening on 19 May (2.30pm - 4pm).
Venue: The Green Collective SG, #01-26/27, OneKM Mall
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (Circle and EW Line), 8 minute walk from the station
Sign up link
Hapazome is another way of transferring colour to different materials. As you can see from the picture below, the best part is you get to transfer the actual plant print too. On top of that there is the added advantage of relieving stress through pounding the leaves and flowers using a hammer or a stone. It sounds very easy but there are a lot of tips and tricks that I will share with you at my workshop at The Green Collective SG. The workshop is happening on 19 May (2.30pm - 4pm).
Venue: The Green Collective SG, #01-26/27, OneKM Mall
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (Circle and EW Line), 8 minute walk from the station
Sign up link
What is The Green Collective SG?
More than a dozen homegrown eco brands have teamed up to launch a multi-brand concept store on the first floor of OneKM Mall. From April to 3 July 2018, visitors can look forward to shopping from a range of sustainable products, and participate in regular workshops ranging from making soaps, natural dyes and transforming upcycled textiles to handcrafted necklaces. Find out more here.
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