This two-day project-based workshop will introduce students to shibori and indigo blue. When these two techniques are combined, the results are some of the most immediate and creative textiles imaginable.

Working with organic cotton napkins, a large organic cotton gauze shawl, and a Japanese cotton table runner, students will learn shaped-resist pattern techniques such as stitched shibori and itajimi shibori (clamp resist). Students will be guided through the procedure for making an indigo vat (using natural indigo) before dyeing the prepared cloths.

The excitement of removing an item from the indigo dye-bath is matched only by the revelation of the final pattern. Students will leave the workshop with their completed projects and a knowledge of how to prepare their own indigo vats for future projects.

Danielle Bush is the manager of Maiwa Supply. Her career in textiles began with sewing and fashion studies at the University of the Fraser Valley. Upon completing courses in design, drawing, drafting, and construction, she was accepted to Maiwa Handprints to do a week-long practicum in the textiles collection. In her words, “It changed my life.” 

Since 2011 Danielle has developed and taught workshops for the Maiwa Textile Symposium.  In 2009 Danielle represented Maiwa at the International Shibori Conference held in France and in 2011 she was a facilitator for the Maiwa Natural Dye Master Class taught by Michel Garcia in Bengal, India. Danielle has a deep understanding and aptitude for dye techniques and creative process. Together with Sophena Kwon, Danielle travels to India each year where she helps manage the Maiwa studio.

Sophena Kwon has grown up with Maiwa as the family business. In 2009 she studied with Michel Garcia in France; in 2010 and 2011 she assisted with natural dye workshops in Peru and India. In 2013 Sophena assisted in natural dye troubleshooting at the Living Blue Cooperative in Bangladesh. Since 2012 she has been co-teaching with Charllotte Kwon and has helped deliver workshops at the Canandaigua, the Penland School of Craft, and Shakerag. In 2015, in an effort to bring artisan dyeing to a new audience she founded the very successful Indigo Social.