“What do you now see differently about the clothes you are wearing at this moment, as a result of the workshop and the documentary, Symphony of the Soil?”
I recently learned that more than half the clothes that are produced contain polyester and other synthetic fibers that have caused an ongoing environmental issue with the way it’s treated/washed. Through the natural dyeing workshop I attended with my Sustainable Systems class, I had the pleasure of seeing how natural fibers, like alpaca or wool, can be dyed without the use of chemicals. Instead, naturally grown materials like onion peels and beets boiled together with some vinegar and salt can transform natural fibers into brilliantly dyed fibers! The act of naturally dyeing fibers creates an excellent dialogue with the creation by making it more meaningful. Another interesting fact was how cotton leaves a relatively large footprint. It’s pretty clear that a number of resources it takes to produce and transport, and it overwhelms the soil. Another negative consequence of producing cotton of the human rights laws that are violated. For instance, the class had a discussion about cotton-picking and how some of the worst child labor problems persist in the cotton farms of Turkey where children die/procure diseases through the pesticides that are used to treat cotton plants. Overall, the workshop acted as a gateway for students to undertake the techniques/philosophies of natural dyeing procedures into future projects.
