Indigo (persicaria tinctoria)
Indigo is the mother of all natural dyes with a rich history in Asia, Africa and South America. My journey with this magical plant wisdom keeper is endless as I continue to learn about her beauty with each vat I create. In the Philippines, the native indigo plant is Malatayun and that indigo was traditionally used to dye fiber for weaving fabric. The richness and vast variety of blues indigo creates has circumnavigated the world more than any other natural plant dye and I love being a part of this story and cultural significance this plant holds for women and future generations.
Marigold (Tagetes erecta)
Marigolds create sublime hues of yellow, gold and orange tones that transport you into the shades of an evening sunset. I am drawn to the different scents of the marigolds, from the ripe soil smell to the sweet fragrance of the marigold dye bath. Marigolds are revered in Asia and are used to decorate altars and temples in India, as they represent wisdom and the path of enlightenment. I spent days collecting marigolds at various sacred sites and Monasteries throughout Nepal and India. They carry the meditation and daily practices home with me. I love adding a few little petals as I make each dye bath.
Madder (Rubia tinctorum)
Madder has a long history of being the most prominent red of all natural ancient dyes. It produces a deeply saturated crimson and scarlet red, however it also contains oranges, yellows, and browns creating a wide variety of tones that can be extracted with different techniques. Madder is native to the mediterranean, though various species are all over Asia, Africa, North and South America. To grow Madder, requires patience as I must wait a minimum of two years to harvest which makes it all the more special when I use it.