It was obvious to me, we needed to learn how to dye. The Design Center of the Philippines had always been a good resource for me in the past. Besides having a library with the latest International fashion magazines, I was so happy to learn that they now were holding classes in "Bleaching and Dyeing of Indigenous Materials," using commercial dyes and the classes were FREE! Free is always the best. The timing couldn't have been better.
I signed Julie Ann, my soon-to-be-dye-expert assistant and myself up to take the class immediately. After a one morning session of instruction on bleaching and dyeing natural fibers, Julie Ann and I were off in our pursuit of color!
We bought big stainless steel pots to do the dying in-house. We drove to Atkimson's Chemicals in Quezon City, to purchase more dyes and chemicals. I wanted color! I was going to get color! Julie Ann dyed oranges, pinks, and yellows, in several shades. I certainly got color! Then it dawned on me at what price I got my color and was immediately remorseful of the damage these chemical dyes do to the earth. I became uneasy about disposing of these toxins, as I worried they'd end up in the ocean. This dilemma brought me to my pursuit of natural dyes.
We bought big stainless steel pots to do the dying in-house. We drove to Atkimson's Chemicals in Quezon City, to purchase more dyes and chemicals. I wanted color! I was going to get color! Julie Ann dyed oranges, pinks, and yellows, in several shades. I certainly got color! Then it dawned on me at what price I got my color and was immediately remorseful of the damage these chemical dyes do to the earth. I became uneasy about disposing of these toxins, as I worried they'd end up in the ocean. This dilemma brought me to my pursuit of natural dyes.