Blog

Have you ever wanted to learn to print with natural dyes? This is a singular opportunity to study the art of creative screen printing and dyeing with 100% non-toxic natural inks, dyes, fabrics and extract from experts in the fields, Kathy Hattori, president of Botanical Colors and textiles design and development specialist Lydia Wendt, founder […]

Shaina Shealy wrote a great article a while back on Rubina Magazine. Her take on five unexpected natural sources of dye are a fun read still. Shaina writes: “Natural dyes are magical. Ordinary plants and roots are transformed into a spectrum of evolving shades and textures; their colors vary depending on the fibers they are […]

Indigo has a long standing history of heavy-duty power in terms of economics and trade and is probably one of the most talked and written about dyes in the natural dye world. We love the color blue and all its moodiness. It’s also very in for fall 14. Get ready for the navy explosion! For […]

Thanks so much to Kim Cihlar of Fashion Whirled for this great article on our upcoming retreat! Kim writes: “For those of you following NYFW, you may be thinking of giving your own Spring/Summer 2015 style more of a DIY spin. Then hie thee down South to Charleston for the three-day Sea Island Indigo Retreat […]

We get so many questions about natural dyes, from techniques to color fastness to “what does it smell like?” The questions are frequent so we’re hoping many of you will send them in so Kathy can properly answer and give you some help! Today’s question came in from one of our favorite textile artists, Abigail […]

Design week at Oregon College of Art and Craft October 4, 2014 to October 11, 2014 is going to be amazing with a solid line up of events ranging from a pop-up to panels and yes, even a class with Botanical Colors. See below. Natural Dye and Printing/Surface Design Workshop Saturday | October 4 | […]

Design Milk writers from Pinch Food Design Bob Spiegel and TJ Girard recently had a great post on natural dyes made from edibles that we were swooning over. They write: “Food as a medium is not a new concept, but a revisited one. Many trades, especially textile designers are finding crossover with food while developing […]

Labor Day is the traditional date for the 2014 Men’s Fall KNitting Retreat and this year, Labor Day long weekend is Thursday, August 28th – Sunday, August 31, 2014. This retreat marks the event’s  SIXTH YEAR at Dumas Bay Center in Federal Way, WA (Near Seattle) and Botanical Colors is proud to once again be part! Find […]

This past Saturday I taught a natural dye workshop in the backyard of my friend’s Cyd and Neal’s vintage store – The Grand Street Bakery. A vintage store set in a converted old bakery, fully equipped with awesome vintage threads hanging on repurposed baking racks, stocked with natural apothecary, magazines and generally some of the […]

We are so excited to have our first post on the Makers Row blog. Talk about a bevy of really important industry information! Thanks to Makers Row for the opportunity to write. Botanical Colors founder Kathy Hattori writes: “Sustainable design often means a concerted effort to really dig into the details of one’s supply chain […]