Natural Dyeing Workshops
From root, hull and flower to colour: hands‑on natural dyeing training.
Let's discover the colours hidden in plants
Watch a handful of madder slowly turn the dye bath red, and a white skein of wool take on a golden yellow from buckthorn — with your own hands. In our workshops we learn every step together, talking and experimenting: getting to know the plants, mordanting, preparing the dye bath and testing how lasting the colour is. At the end of the day you go home with the colours you dyed yourself and your own recipes.
Hakan Çağan passes on what he has learned since 2006 from his master Prof. Dr. Mustafa Genç, combined with his workshop and laboratory experience at the İzmir Maturation Institute. You will discover the knowledge behind centuries‑old recipes both by hand and with a scientific eye.
Join the next workshopWhat You Will Learn
Getting to know dyestuffs
Madder, buckthorn, weld, walnut, oak, pomegranate and indigo — which plant gives which colour.
Mordanting
Preparing fibre with alum, tannin and iron; differences between wool, silk and cotton.
Dye baths and recipes
Controlling shade with ratio, temperature, time and pH; recording recipes.
Eco‑print and printing
Printing directly onto fabric with leaves and flowers.
Shibori and indigo
Creating patterns by binding, folding and stitching; blues from the indigo vat.
Fastness and quality
Rubbing, washing and light fastness; tips for lasting, even colour.
Moments from the Workshops
Workshop Types
Individuals and small groups
Hands‑on workshops for beginners and advanced dyers, with close personal guidance.
Institutions and schools
Custom programmes for institutes, adult education centres, associations and universities.
Festivals and event demonstrations
Live natural dyeing demonstrations with copper cauldrons and participatory mini workshops.