Inspired by the green spaces of Ōtautahi Christchurch, Seonaid Burnie of The Clothworks looks at closing the loop when it comes to the art on our walls by re-purposing second-hand fabrics, employing eco-printing and dyeing techniques using plants and trees foraged from our City’s residential red zone, and bringing a little bit of the Garden City back into our homes.
This tasseled scarf by Flora & Fabric is a soft and beautiful 50% wool, 50% silk textile blend, eco-printed with Japanese maple leaves, sumac, and onion skins. The fascinating process of eco dyeing involves the scarf being arranged with its plant matter, rolled into a bundle, and gently boiled for several hours to allow for the eco-printing process to work its magic.
Whether it’s a wedding, anniversary, birth of baby, anniversary or death of a loved one, flowers play a significant part in all of these times. Botanical dyeing can preserve your treasured bouquet – and talented textile artist Karen Williamson of Nuku has come up with a lovely personalised silk scarf keepsake infused with the unique patterns and colours of your own flowers. You provide the bouquet(s) to be used as the dye source for a luscious eco-dyed Nuku silk scarf, and you’ll receive in return something, beautiful, eco-friendly and special to wear while holding those memories close.
Through her work as textile artist and eco dyer, Karen Williamson of Nuku finds a spiritual connection to the land and its changing seasons. Using only natural resources, foraged from the local Kaipara landscape, Karen infuses prints of leaves, petals, seeds and bark into natural fibres to create a unique range of scarves, clothing and gifts. The name Nuku comes from te reo Māori, meaning earth. Karen lives in rural Kaiwaka and is building a sustainable lifestyle on a half-acre section with her husband, Luke.