HAND BLOCK PRINTED WITH NATURAL DYES ON 100% ORGANIC COTTON

Created by master craftspeople in India

What the well-dressed beds of 2018 are wearing

Ajrakh is the name of a cloth that has been blockprinted in the traditional method using natural dyes such as indigo, madder, and pomegranate. The ajrakh process is a long one, involving several steps of washing and scouring the cloth, then additional steps to mordant the cloth, and still more steps as each colour is either directly blockprinted or resist blockprinted with natural dyes. The order is of utmost importance as the layers of colour are built up and the traditional geometric ajrakh patterns emerge.

Bagh block printed bedding adds character and depth to any room. The patterning is a beautiful balance of figure and ground that allows motif and colour to sing together. Printed on 100% organic cotton using natural dyes and traditional techniques.

Maiwa’s kalamkari bedding is block printed by hand on 100% organic cotton using natural dyes. Floral motifs and geometric embellishments invoke the Persian influence found in traditional kalamkari. The bedding is a sumptuous combination of line and colour.

By taking advantage of the fine desert sand of Rajasthan, artisans are able to create a mud-resist known as “Dabu.” A cold-water resist, dabu is particularly effective for blocking out areas during an indigo bath. The character of dabu and the wooden blocks used to apply it, go together to create the distinctive patterns known as “dabu” prints.

Colour on yarn — it has motivated artisans for centuries. Yarns - especially wools - are extremely satisfying to dye. There is no feeling quite like dipping a hank of yarn into a dyepot and having them soak up colour. 

This is a comprehensive workshop packed with project that explore dyeing, overdyeing, and direct application. Students leave with a complement of yarns dyed by their own hand ready to take into their next project. Read full description.

Art is about colour. For creative textile artists that means learning to dye. Natalie Grambow's Introduction to Dyes is one of our most sought after workshop for people looking to understand how and why to use the wealth of dye types available. Natalie Grambow is one of our most experienced instructors and few can match the depth and breadth of her knowledge of textile techniques. Thinking about learning how to dye? This workshop is for you. Read full description.

Here is a complete list of courses with one or more openings.

We don't expect these spaces to last.

Learn to Knit (second offering)

Knitting Basics and Beyond

Pure Substance - Unpredictable Pattern

Introduction to Dyes

Arashi Shibori & Silk Painting

Dyeing for Knitters

Reverse Pattern Drafting

Dyeing to Felt

Natural Dyes - Print & Paint

Indigo Dye Nights (second offering)

Pattern Drafting - Working from the Block

Introduction to Shibori & Indigo Dyeing

Dyeing to Sew

The Garden Dyepot

Vintage Hand Sewing Techniques

Under Construction

Banjara Stitches

A large part of Maiwa's 30 year history has been an in-depth study of natural dyes. As artisans we love them for so many reasons: a connection to tradition, a sensitivity to botany, and a deep appreciation of how colour is obtained from the natural world.

Now Maiwa is proud to offer its first range of 100% natural, organic hair dyes . Henna for skin and for hair, cassia for hair, and powdered green-leaf indigo for hair. These are a collection of natural colourants offering a range of colours. Let the beauty of natural dyes adorn you.

VISIT OUR HAIR DYE AND MEHNDI COLLECTION

Henna has been used for over 6000 years to give copper reds and reddish browns to hair, skin, textiles, and leather. The active colouring component in henna is lawsone which is released when dried leaves are ground and a mild acid (lemon juice or vinegar) is added. The dye easily bonds with the proteins in hair and skin.

Cassia (also known as “neutral henna”) grows in East Africa and India where its powdered leaves have been used in the care and colour of hair for centuries. The golden yellow of cassia comes from the anthraquinone chrysophanol. Cassia will dye pale or gray hair a golden wheat colour, however, the colour is not as permanent as henna.

Indigo, the famous blue dye, has been used on textiles for thousands of years. It has also been used (usually combined with henna) on hair to achieve deep browns and blacks. King Darius (520 BC) is thought to have used it. For dyeing hair it is best to use the dried leaves directly—these are available as a finely ground, light-green powder. 

See our Hair Dye & Mehndi Instruction Sheet