HOME
Native natural dye workshops in Bristol and the South West. Learn how to forage for dyes, extract colour, and dye uk grown cloth.
Learn how to identify dye plants. Explore the possibilities of sustainable textiles harnessing local renewable materials.
Pioneers of british natural dye productions
“Inspiring holistic systems-change through natural colour”
Supported by:
NOURISH
CREATIVE TROPICAL SPA RETREAT
KOH PHAGNAN. THAILAND
March 8th - 13th, 2025
Immerse yourself in a programe of inspiring creative practices & soulful experiences
The retreat is held at a relaxing sanctuary
within in a beautiful verdant island & soft Thai culture,
to a melodic chorus of exotic birdsong
Expect spaciousness to rest & reconnect with yourself
& to leave feeling enlivened and nourished
ALL INCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHTS:
Tropical retreat experience
Daily natural dye workshops & rituals with Babs Behan, Founder of Botanical Inks
A beautiful set of complimentary blank handmade travel items will be included in your package, for you to dye during the retreat. These include a kimono robe, meditation/sleep eye mask and other items. All made with the best organic natural cottons & peace silks.
Optional activities such as breathwork, singing, movement, dance, cacao ceremonies, beach trips & hiking.
Excursion to a natural dye artisan initiative for a leaf printing workshop and organic farm-to-table lunch
Herbal steam dome and cold plunge pool available mornings and evenings
Incredible vegan catering
Optional morning and afternoon yoga sessions
Evening wellbeing activities for example sound baths, yin yoga, bedtime meditation, heart-opening dance etc.
Swimming pool accessible 24/7
Comfortable beds and choice of ensuite private rooms or affordable luxury dormitories
Relaxed and friendly community
Closing ceremony & ecstatic dance celebration
NATURAL DYE KITS
WITH VIDEO WORKSHOPS
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
JOIN ME IN-PERSON AT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS:
Seasonal Natural Dyes Workshop
Date: Thursday, May 16th, 2024
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Catherine Waters Antiques, Ashburton, Devon. TQ13 7QD
Price: £60.00
An introduction to natural dyeing with local, seasonal plants, such as Hawthorn, Nettle & Gorse..
You will create a collection of different colour naturally dyed fabric patches & darning threads for visible mending projects.
Botanical Day Retreat
In collaboration with Bex from Botanical Tales
Date: Sunday September 15th, 2024
Time: 10-4pm (Optional sauna until 6pm)
Location: SouthcombeBarn Widecombe In The Moor, Devon. TQ13 7TU
Price: £145.00
gift vouchers
Available here for your chosen amount, sent via email as an e-voucher, to use with all online store items.
Book a Consultation Call
Whatever your natural dye or print related query, you can book a quick 30 min call, or longer to discuss a more in-depth project with Babs, the Founder of Botanical Inks natural dye house.
NEW BOOK EDITION:
BOTANICAL DYES:
PLANT-TO-PRINT DYES, TECHNIQUES & PROJECTS
(Quadrille Books, 2023)
Botanical Dyes features recipes and top tips on everything you need to know to make your own natural dyes.
The process of turning plants into print can help you reconnect with nature, find a creative outlet and develop a mindful sense of presence. It also promotes an awareness of sustainable practices and how to reduce our impact on the planet.
Extracting from and updating her book Botanical Inks, Babs talks the home crafter through everything from foraging for dyes, making mordants, creating an array of colours and then putting your new knowledge to the text through a collection of simple projects.
With more than 10 dye recipes, clear step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting tips and explanations of what works and why. Botanical Dyes is the accessible handbook that modern makers everywhere have been waiting for.
VIDEO TUTORIALS
INDIGO + MADDER
bristol cloth
ENGLISH CASHMERE EDITION
The Bristol Cloth: Cashmere Project is a new offering from Botanical Inks natural dye studio/ pioneer of the UK's first locally sourced and manufactured, “soil-to-soil” textile production system: the Bristol Cloth Project, as seen on BBC News, BBC Countryfile, Sky News and several national newspapers and magazines.
Made with ethical Cashmere sustainably farmed by Bowmont UK in Exmoor, South West England.
Hand dyed with organic indigo plant dye and organic madder root pinks to complement the natural fleece colour, by Botanical Inks natural dye house, based in Bristol.
Grown, processed and made without the use of any harmful synthetic chemicals, for the softest and kindest textiles to wear over the skin and envelope the body in.
Whilst being equally kind and respectful to the land, humans and non-humans involved in the creative journey.
Made with the only English source of Mongolian-grade Cashmere - the finest Cashmere in the World.
The genetics for which have been carefully selected, imported from Australia and bred to suit our climate by specialist breeder and fibre farmer Lesley Prior, of “Bowmont UK” in Exmoor, Devon.
Sustainably and ethically farmed within these shores, using farming techniques that prioritise high animal welfare standards and hold land stewerdship at the core.
The Goats’ fleece is hand-combed when it naturally starts to malt and fall away each year.
The Exmoor valley in which the farm is nestled is host to numerous returning rare butterflies and native wild flowers, a testiment to the health and vitality of the land and soil.
Madder root brings a variety of blush pink to dusty peach hues which ripple and reflect tonal variations across each uniquely woven piece.
These yarns are dyed on the hank using a pioneering approach, taking traditional natural dyes into a commercial dye house complex, with scaled up capacity machinery, whilst creating the re-emerging possibility for the use of non-toxic natural dyes within the British Textile Industry once again.
These dyed colours sit next to the natural, un-dyed ecru English Cashmere fleece colour.
Non-toxic mineral salts are used to fix the natural dyes to the fibre, to create resilient and long lasting colourfast results.
Bristol Weaving Mill are an artisan mill based in the Old Market Quarter of Bristol, run by an entirely female team of highly skilled weavers.
Bristol Weaving Mill have an experimental and innovative approach to textile design and manufacturing.
Big bolts of plant colour strike across the warp and weft, disappear and re-appear again through geometric textures, inspired by traditional weaving techniques.
The 30 scarves created in this special limited edition project are made with the highest quality natural materials and craftsmanship as heirloom pieces which will last many lifetimes, but not an eternity.
Sustainably sourced, processed and manufactured without the use of any harmful synthetic chemicals, to provide the softest and kindest relationship to your body and the environment.
Designed to be eventually given back to the earth as nutrients which build fertile soil to nourish new life cycles.
Our scarves are priced to reflect the true cost and value of the artisan work and sustainably sourced natural materials, whilst cutting out the middle man and offering high quality produce at lower prices than one might usually expect in luxury retail stores.
Making re-localised and circular fashion & textile systems more accessible and setting a new president.
A system of mutual respect and solidarity for humans, non-humans and the natural environment.
Available to buy now via our online store
Size: 208 cm x 83cm
ORDERS ARE POSTED ONCE A WEEK.
Expect Orders to be fulfilled within 4-5 working days.
