Music festivals draw massive crowds every summer and as much as they are about the music, they’re also mass advertising opportunities. Companies inundate the crowds with free merch like bandanas, socks, glow sticks, etc. that carry a brand or message. I’m proposing the distribution of naturally-tie-dyed tote bags to raise awareness of the possibilities of natural dye as well as the effects of water pollution.
The dyeing industry is one of the largest global polluters with waste often going directly into water sources without filtration. This jeopardizes the quality of drinking water and potentially puts all of the communities which depend on a polluted water source at risk of illness or dehydration. Additionally it threatens the safety of crops irrigated with polluted water, as well as the resources which come directly from the rivers and streams (fish, shellfish, seaweed, etc.).
These tote bags will be dyed with red cabbage, twisted as tie-dye is traditionally twisted, and then patted with baking soda to activate the dye and produce psychedelic patterns of color. The fun, vibrant pattern will attract people to claim their bag and encourage them to use it regularly. Additionally, I plan for the bags to be screen printed with ink made from natural pigment with facts about water pollution and other potential applications for natural dyes. The bag itself will be made from untreated, unbleached canvas which readily absorbs dye and doesn’t contribute to the chemical waste that comes from bleaching.
I understand that festival goers are unlikely to read the information at the venue – festivals are meant to provide endless entertainment/distraction – but after returning home they’ll have the bags to use and remind them of sustainable dyeing practices daily. That’s also the motivation behind my choice to create a tote bag; It is possibly the best object to use if I’m trying to ensure people literally carry the message home.
Governor’s Ball on Randall’s Island is a perfect venue for the distribution of these tote bags: it’s surrounded by water, it brings in massive crowds, and it serves the NYC community which is notoriously tote-bag obsessed. The bags could be dyed with water that comes directly from the rivers which surround Randall’s Island Park (the East and the Harlem). The dyeing process exposes the This would bring the cause close to home for the New Yorkers attending and help the rest of the crowd feel connected to their environmental surroundings. A heightened awareness of the surrounding ecosystems could cause festival-goers to consider where their waste goes, and inadvertently mitigate the waste caused by the event itself. 
