Japanese Madder - Exploring Natural Dyes at Kew Gardens.

Japanese madder: a unique Textile Society event co-hosted with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

This event marks a visit for the first time to the UK by Ichiro Sugimoto – Japanese researcher, ecologist and ‘revivalist’ of the ancient plant dye akane (Japanese native madder). Working in collaboration with Siân Bowen (Artist in Residence) and Mark Nesbitt (Curator of the Economic Botany Collection, Kew), the event offers a unique opportunity for textile practitioners and enthusiasts to engage with a wide range of aspects related to Japanese plant dyeing.

Venue: , Kew.

Date: Friday 4 October 2024 10.30am to 4.30pm

Schedule:

10.30 am: Meet at the , Kew.

10.45 am: Welcome to Guests: Ichiro Sugimoto, his son Takahiro, who will assist him, and event participants.

11.00 -11.45 am: Siân Bowen will give an illustrated talk on her four-year project at Kew and collaboration with Ichiro Sugimoto and Mark Nesbitt. She will focus on a three-month visit to Japan where she worked primarily with the three ‘ancient’ Japanese dyes (madder, murasaki and indigo), together with other plant-based materials used for textiles and weaving such as lacquer and handmade Japanese paper.

11.45 am - 12.45 pm: Session led by Curator of the Economic Botany Collection, Kew, Professor Mark Nesbitt. This will be a rare opportunity to have a personal tour of the stores of the Economic Botany Collection in order to see examples of historical madder-dyed textiles from different parts of the world.

12.45 - 2.00 pm: Lunch at own cost in Family Restaurant (or packed lunch if preferred).

2.00: Afternoon programme led by Ichiro Sugimoto.

2.00 - 3.00 pm: Ichiro Sugimoto will deliver an illustrated talk on his experimentation with Japanese madder in relation to: traditional and ground-breaking dye processes; sustainable cultivation; historical and cultural significance, and collaboration with local communities and Japanese farmers.

3.00 - 3.30 pm: Refreshments (provided)

3.30 - 4.30 pm: Ichiro Sugimoto will show examples of dyed silks and cottons which demonstrate the extraordinary range of colours that can be extracted from Japanese madder – and how these colours vary from madder grown in other countries such as India and Bhutan. There will also be a plant material handling session. The event will conclude with questions and answers.

4.30 - 6.00 pm: Participants will be free to explore the gardens of Kew

Travel:

Please allow plenty of time for your journey. Postcode TW9 3AE.

We recommend you use a travel app such as Google Maps or Citymapper.

Meeting point:

Our meeting place is Herbarium Reception, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on Kew Green. On arrival at the Herbarium Gate (50m to the right of the public Elizabeth Gate) follow the signs to Reception.

Public transport to Kew Gardens or Kew Bridge station is encouraged.

Car parking is available in the Herbarium car park (turn left inside Herbarium Gate; put a sign in the windshield that you are ‘visiting Mark Nesbitt’).

Tickets (inclusive of entry to Kew Gardens):

Textile Society Members: £35

Non-members: £45

Enquiries:

Contact Dr Linda Brassington at [email protected]

Host or Publisher The Textile Society