Artisans of Dartmoor - Book - Page 167
community. “Craft – making together – is social
glue,” she says.
So, how does Babs view the future of the
commercial dyeing industry? With major brands
like Nike and Adidas, along with designers such as
Vivienne Westwood, introducing naturally dyed
products, she is hopeful that change is under way. Babs
herself has consulted with the clothing departments
of Marks & Spencer and Asda on ways to produce
naturally dyed ranges. “The transition is happening,”
she says. “I just wish it would speed up a little.”
LEFT: Babs sprinkles rose, cornflower
and St John’s wort petals onto a length
of organic silk to recreate the colourful
‘bundle dyed’ look in her dress.
ABOVE: White and pink yarrow is
trimmed into a saucepan to make a mellow
yellow dye.
RIGHT: Using local plants and
flowers, Babs creates inks for paintings
and blockprints.
The Natural Dyer • Babs Behan
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