Print Clan: From Plants, A Weekend of Exploring Natural Colour for Textiles
About this Event
Print Clan is Scotland’s largest open-access textile screen-printing studio, and our inclusive ethos nurtures creativity at all levels of experience.
We support social, design-led, and fine art projects by providing access to screen-printing facilities, resources, and training.
Following our 2024 Artist Residency programme exploring sustainable textile printing practices, we are now asking a bigger question: how can natural dyes become an accessible, practical part of everyday studio practice or feasible when scaled up to industry quantities? And does removing the financial and equipment barrier allow wider pathways into experimentation?
Using plant based pigments and dyes can often presented as an exclusive knowledge; something that requires extensive equipment, insider technical expertise, and intimidating research to attempt to use.
We want to open these practices to a wider community, making the first steps into natural pigments feel more approachable and accessible than many people realise.
Our aim is to establish a community of natural dye makers, enthusiasts: both complete beginners and experts alike who can collectively develop a shared resource for working with natural colour in textile screen printing. Through open access to equipment, tools, recipes, materials, plants, seeds, food waste streams, mordants, knowledge, and shared learning, we hope to remove barriers and make the transition to natural dyes achievable for anyone interested in incorporating them into their practice.
This weekend is an opportunity not only to learn about natural dyes, but also to help shape what this community could become. We want to offer our commitment into understanding and providing the support, resources, facilities, and knowledge people need in order to use natural dyes confidently and sustainably within their own work.
Agenda
🕑: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Saturday 8th August - Open Talk & Discussion Panel
Host: Print Clan
Info: Morning sessions will take the form of open talks, discussions, and knowledge-sharing. Together we will explore: Demystifying the fundamentals of natural dyes and pigments; Working with plants, food waste, and locally sourced materials; Recipes, processes, and practical considerations; Equipment and studio requirements; Resource sharing and collective infrastructure; Opportunities and challenges for natural dyes within contemporary textile production. These sessions are designed to be welcoming and beginner-friendly, with plenty of space for questions, discussion, and collective thinking. Morning sessions will repeat on both days - please only attend one.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Saturday 8th August - Workshop
Info: Afternoon sessions will focus on hands-on practical workshops, putting ideas into practice through making and experimenting with screen printing, indigo and colour exploration.
*Workshop programme to be announced.*
🕑: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Sunday 9th August - Open Talk & Discussion Panel
Info: Morning sessions will take the form of open talks, discussions, and knowledge-sharing. Together we will explore: Demystifying the fundamentals of natural dyes and pigments; Working with plants, food waste, and locally sourced materials; Recipes, processes, and practical considerations; Equipment and studio requirements; Resource sharing and collective infrastructure; Opportunities and challenges for natural dyes within contemporary textile production. These sessions are designed to be welcoming and beginner-friendly, with plenty of space for questions, discussion, and collective thinking. Morning sessions will repeat on both days - please only attend one.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sunday 8th August - Workshop
Info: Afternoon sessions will focus on hands-on practical workshops, putting ideas into practice through making and experimenting with screen printing, indigo and colour exploration.
*Workshop programme to be announced.*
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
