Natural Indigo Dyeing Workshop: Honoring Cultural Resilience
Join textile and fashion designer Samantha, founder of the sustainable clothing brand Tens Studio, in this Indigo natural dyeing workshop.
This workshop is created in collaboration with and in response to Black History Month and climate awareness.
Samantha’s collective initiative aims to inspire more Black people to engage with the arts. and her work explores Black history through sustainable materials.
You will use a mix of waste textiles and items significant to Black traditions to collectively create a communal art piece displayed as part of the large scale public artwork for the Luton Matters Project.
Activities:
1. Hands-on Indigo Dyeing: Participants will experiment with dyeing fabric
and string vests, gaining insight into traditional indigo techniques and
modern approaches.
2. Historical and Cultural Discussions: We will discuss the string vest's
symbolic significance in the Caribbean Black community, its connection to
resilience and working-class identity, and how indigo dyeing connects to
African heritage.
3. Creative Expression: Each participant will design and dye a string vest or
fabric piece using indigo, creating a unique work that reflects personal and
collective narratives. Only the string vests dyed during this workshop
will be used for the Luton Matters commission, symbolizing unity across
cultures in the final installation.
4. Personal Cultural Contribution: Participants are encouraged to bring
one personal item that holds cultural relevance to them. This could be
an article of clothing, an accessory, or any fabric piece that can be dyed
and incorporated into their design. By incorporating these personal items,
participants will have the opportunity to further connect their own heritage
and identity to the workshop’s themes of resilience, cultural pride, and
creative expression.
Take-Home Piece: Participants will take home their personally dyed fabric or
items, a piece of wearable art that reflects their heritage and the shared cultural
narratives explored in the workshop. However, the string vests created during
the workshop will be used exclusively for the final installation in the Luton
Matters commission, highlighting the Black communities in Luton.
