the MAIWA JOURNAL

JUNE 2021

THE NATURAL DYE WORKSHOP

Watch The Natural Dye Workshop Trailer Here

THE NATURAL DYE WORKSHOP

Enrollment opens May 3rd at 10am (pacific time)

- 45 evocative instructional videos.

- Work with 11 natural dyes including indigo.

- Build dyepots from 18 recipes, shift colours with iron and overdye with indigo.

- Complete the course with close to 100 different colours ... and a whole new appreciation for the magic of natural dyes.

Full Workshop Details Here

See what people are saying about Maiwa's first online workshop...

I’m teary-eyed right now. Can’t believe we’ve come to the end of this fabulous course. Oh wow, what a journey. You guys are wonderful. The course is wonderful. Not enough words to thank you and praise you for this experience. Please keep producing more on-line courses......please, please, please!

— Susan

This has been an amazing course. The format for the lessons is perfect. I am totally zoomed out at this point and it is wonderful to get a lesson, fuss around on my own and see the outcome.

The modules are so incredibly well put together and to have the ability to go back and watch a module and ask a question is invaluable. Even without answering questions - being able to go back and review the module is fantastic and so helpful.

— Erica

This has been the best class ever!!! I have loved doing it at home using my own water so that I am able to get consistent results all the time (hopefully). I am constantly looking at my hand dyed colours and thinking of what I will create next. I have learned sooo much from you both. You have incredible talent and knowledge that I am grateful to be on the receiving end of. Keep offering more online classes. Love the format!

— Shirley

Thank you so much Charlotte and Sophena for this truly wonderful course! It has left me with a full force of inspiration :) The amount of detail, and care, and compassion you both have for your craft and for sharing your knowledge is beautiful to have been a part of. I will be re-watching and taking notes for many weeks to come.

— Ewa

I am so sort of overwhelmed that this is ending... for now. I think back to my many grandmother’s who were textile people - sheep farmers, a tenter in a cotton mill, many many quilters and tatters and and crochet pillowcase trim makers...and wonder that of course they could never have imagined their future granddaughter would have the huge LUXURY of being able to keep her sanity during a time of quarantine by being able to intensely study natural dying for 10 weeks with the finest teachers on the topic. I have truly loved every minute of this - my “take outs” at the end would all be my grumpy ness at having to address the “activities of daily living” - like interrupting my dying to actually produce a meal or almost not being able to walk at the end of the day because I have been standing on the hard floor stirring the pots for many hours that day...every bit worth it!!

— Patricia

I feel a bit emotional about the end of the course, it has been such a great journey and pure joy learning from you. The passion, love and kindness that you clearly show through your wonderful videos always make me smile and encourages me to keep going, experimenting, learning...I hope Sophena and the baby are doing well. I wish them and you all the happiness in the world. — Margarida

This course has been such a fantastic and heart warming experience. I have wanted to do a course with Maiwa for years (but I'm in the UK) and have enjoyed this course so much! Your knowledge and passion for what you do shines out and it's so inspiring to have had this chance to learn from you and Sophena. The tutorials have been clear and so enjoyable to watch and learn from. The Q & A has been really valuable and I have appreciated to have your advice and just be able to ask questions.

This has given me the confidence to go forward. — Michele

schooloftextiles.com

Make sure you are subscribed to our email list.

Keep an eye on schooloftextiles.com for updates.

Visit naturaldyes.ca Here

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 No comments

This last week we told you about young weavers returning to tradition in their use of natural dyes. That energy has brought about a renewed interest in playing with weave structures in an innovative and creative way. Feel the excitement and enthusiasm that these shawls create.

See All Shawls Here

These handspun and naturally dyed threads are rich and deep, coloured with traditional natural dye plants. The recipes have been developed by Maiwa in collaboration with master weavers in Bengal, India. We think these spools are very special and sing with possibilities. We are excited to bring these threads to our community on this side of the world to explore and play within your own work.

Cotton — Linen — Silk Matka — Merino Wool

Bengal weavers are historically famous for using the finest threads in their work. Maiwa is deeply involved in working alongside village artisans to encourage longevity of skills. We collaborate to develop special cloth for our clothing and textile line.

See All Bengal Threads here

To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.

Thursday, April 08, 2021 No comments

Watch Our New Trailer Here

REGISTRATION FOR OUR NEXT SESSION OPENS

MAY 3rd 2021 @ 10am Pacific Time

We think that everyone should have access to high-quality instruction in textile techniques, delivered in an engaging, visual format.

Taking full advantage of over thirty years of world-wide textile research, Maiwa has written, filmed and produced its first set of online workshops. These are in-depth workshops presented with documentary-style videos and full step-by-step demonstrations. Everything you'll need to know — from preparation to execution.

We also include detailed information on each and every material or technique used. Workshops have robust documentation that includes recipes, formulas, vital tips and troubleshooting techniques. All designed to be clear, easy to read and follow.

maiwa.teachable.com

FREE TUTORIALS

We think some things should be common knowledge: How to mordant your fibre. How to properly scour your yarns or cloth so that your project looks amazing. We've put up seven free tutorials covering everything from mordanting to pH to setting up your studio. All available for free.

Make sure you are subscribed to our email list.

Keep an eye on schooloftextiles.com and maiwa.teachable.com for updates.

Tuesday, April 06, 2021 No comments

For a thorough introduction to natural indigo including procedures and recipes, see our "How to Dye with Indigo" at naturaldyes.ca.

See All of Maiwa's Natural Indigo Here

Dyeing with indigo — a magical experience. naturaldyes.ca

MAIWA'S HONEST YARN

See All Honest Yarn Here

India Flint holding a skein of our Linen Honest Yarn in Juniper - naturally dyed with Indigo and Myrobalan.

CLOTH BAGS

See All Cloth Bags

BEDDING

See All Bedding

NATURAL INDIGO

IN OUR CLOTHING, SCARVES, & SHAWLS

See All Clothing

See All Scarves & Shawls

KITS

See All Natural Dye Kits

BOOKS

See All Books About Indigo

See All Books

BANDANAS

See All Bandanas

YARDAGE

See All Yardage

This journal has been an idea of ours for a long time. It is a little like a combination of a travel journal and a natural dye journal. It is the journal we have always wanted.

See The Natural Dye Journal Here

To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.

Thursday, April 01, 2021 No comments

NATURAL DYES in BENGAL

Over the past few decades of working in Bengal we've witnessed a remarkable change. It used to be that the skilled yarn dyers in the rural areas north of Kolkata would do natural dyes for our orders, but not so much for themselves. The previous generation knew natural dyes, but the knowledge was fading, and synthetic dyes were fast, easy and cheap.

Fast, easy, cheap, and perhaps (for those using the unregulated dyes available to the Indian market) a bit of a health risk. There were reports of village dyers with health issues, and the ever present issue of waste water from dye studios was always visible.

But over the past five years we've witnessed a renewed desire to use natural dyes. And the motivation for this change is coming from within the younger generation of weavers. Established modern artisans who have rejected urban life in favour of the country. An entire generation that sees the rural area not as a place to get away from, but rather a place to make home.

This generation of weavers are planing for the long term. With renewed skills in natural dyes and a growing international market, weavers are taking control of the dyeing — for the future of their families, and the future of weaving.

See All Shawls Here