Pioneers of british natural dye productions

“Inspiring holistic systems-change through natural colour”

clients include;

LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 2025

BRISTOL CLOTH

3RD EDITION: DARTMOOR DYES

Regeneratively farmed Shetland/Romney lambswool, from North Somerset.

Naturally dyed with native and invasive traditional dye plants, harvested from Dartmoor.

Using natural plant mordants rather than mineral mordants.

Produced without any harmful synthetic imputs on land, fleece or fibre.

Woven on a vintage Dormier loom in Bristol.

Sourced and produced entirely within British shores

In a series of traditional artsian mills, based mainly within the South West of England.

A re-localised, scalable, soil-to-soil textile production for the UK.

We are now taking pre-orders for this edition.

We currently anticipate to have the scarves back from the weaving mill in September

To be dyed and fulfilled by the end of October.

More info coming soon..

RE-LOCALISED

Based entirely within British shores and mainly within the South-West of England.

Locally farmed and processed in a series of artisan mills

CIRCULAR

100% natural fibres and traditional plant dyes

Free from all harmful inputs inc. agricultural chemicals, synthetic detergents, spinning oil, finishing agents, mineral mordants.

We use only organic soap and water for finishing.

Designed to be given back to the soil at the end of its useful lifecycle, as nourishing nutrients rather than pollutants.

REGENERATIVE WOOL

On the weft, Shetland/Romney 100% Lambwool, regeneratively farmed by Fernhill Farm in North Somerset, to improve the biodiversity of the land, increase soil fertility and offer the highest standards of animal welfare.

Without the use of any harmful synthetic chemical inputs on land, fleece or fibre.

100% BRITISH WOOL

On the warp, a 100% British wool sourced from Natural Fibre Company. A recycleing project combining their deadstock of unused British wool yarns, to create a new yarn.

(Although this yarn is fully traceable, we cannot guarantee the processing materials are 100% organic).

TRADITIONAL NATURAL DYEING

The dyeworks offer a non-toxic, 100% plant based production, using plant mordants and no mineral mordants or other synthetic chemical substances whatsoever.

DARTMOOR DYES

Traditional natural dyes harvested from the land on Dartmoor and processed by hand. Using only 100% natural and biodegrable non-toxic plant-based materials.

PIONEERING SUSTAINABILITY

Botanical Inks natural dye house priorise abundant sources of colour from native and “invasive” dye plants, with a spotlight on tree dyes, which have a high tannin content that gives excellent colourfastness and rich colours from a small amount of plant matter. For a pioneering sustainable approach to scaleable UK-based natural dyeing.

PLANT COLOURS

The scarves and blanket scarves will be available in a few limited edtion colours. The warp is a natural undyed dark brown/black fleece colour, of 100% British wool, recycled from the BTQ/Natural Fibre Co. deadstock collection as a brilliant new sustainability scheme to reduce waste.

The weft is our beloved Regeneratively farmed Shetland/Romney lambswool, from Fernhill Farm, in the Mendip Hills of North Somerset. Woven in its undyed and unbleached natural white fleece colour.

The finished scarves will be piece dyed with the Dartmoor dyes at Babs Behan’s Botanical Inks studio on Dartmoor.

There will be a selection of different dye colours to choose from, including Hawthorn, Oak, Alder, Mugwort and Bramble.

These dyes have been professionally colour lab tested for colourfastness to light, rub and wash, with excellent results.

(This research was part the “Native and Invasive Dye Plant Project” by Botanical Inks natural dye house in 2023, microfunded by Fibreshed SWE).

ARTISAN WEAVING

Woven by the Bristol Weaving Mill on a vintage Dormier loom by an all-woman team of highly skilled weavers. To create a limited edition collection of scarves and blanket scarves.

HOPSACK WEAVE DESIGN

This edition has a new “Hopsack” weave design, as shown below. A chessboard style of weave structure, with minture square motifs of alternating colours.

Every piece will have the natural undyed brown/black fleece colour squares and there will be a natural dye colour on the paler squares. Choose your favourite natural dye colour from the collection.

A truely unique and exceptionally thoughtful heirloom piece, to be enjoyed and passed down through many lifetimes.

PLANT COLOUR RITUALS

A FREE MONTHLY ONLINE COMMUNITY GATHERING

Starting on the New Moon and culminating on the Full Moon.
With 2 x free online zoom calls.

We initiate the journey with the chosen dye plant together, with a guided somatic tea-tasting ritual.
You’ll receive guidance from natural dyer and founder of Botanical Inks, Babs Behan, on how to work with this plant as a herbal dye allie and creative medium. With special recipes and rituals to inspire and nourish your month.

The invitation is to commit to meeting the plant daily for 2 weeks (like a “plant dieta”) through a range of herbal applications and creative options to suit your chosen path.

We then gather again on the Full Moon to share our experiences and creations - a rich group learning experience.

learn online : workshops

BOOK

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.

NATURALLY DYED GOODS

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