On this episode of the Natural Dye Podcast we talked to Rin, the creator behind Modus Operandi Fibers. At one point Rin had a position as an epidemiologist but ultimately left the data-driven desk job to start Modus Operandi Fibers. Rin now focuses on producing beautiful naturally dyed yarns and fibers, sharing their passion for organic gardening, science, experimenting, and creativity along the way. Alongside MO Fibers Rin also provides resources to natural dyers on how to grow your own dye garden and use natural dyes through their education program Dirt + Dye. We hope you love Rin’s incredible journey as much as we do!

Niki Tsukamoto is an artist and indigo enthusiast who is one half of the duo behind Lookout & Wonderland, a home for radical idea making and collaborative creation. Over the years, Lookout and Wonderland has worked with fashion labels such as Stussy and interior space such as the Ace Hotel in Brooklyn. From curtains to shoes, blouses to soft goods, Lookout and Wonderland has continuously shown us the beauty that is found in slowing down and exploring color from natural dyes.

María Elena Pombo is a New York based artist who explores ideas of time and culture under the moniker Fragmentario. Born in Caracas, Venezuela her work is striking in the way that it explores the intersections of place and time through the use of by-products such as avocado seeds. María Elena’s work has been exhibited across Europe, Japan, the United States, and most recently at the London Design Biennale at Somerset House. Besides her work as an artist, María Elena also teaches about systems and materiality as a faculty member at Parsons School of Design.  We hope you enjoy the ways María Elena thinks deeply about commodities, materials, and design and that it inspires your own natural dye journey.

Donna Brown is a fiber artist from Denver, Colorado with over 30 years of natural-dyeing and teaching experience. Donna has taught natural dyeing internationally and at institutions based in the United States, such as Penland School of Crafts and John C. Campbell Folk School. She is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Weaver’s Guild and helps to run the Janice Ford Memorial Dye Garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms. The Janice Ford Memorial Dye Garden is a place where community members learn to grow and use plants for dyeing yarn, fabric and basketry materials.

Episode 4 features Winona Quigley, co-founder and CEO of Green Matters Natural Dye Company based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Green Matters Natural Dye Co is a natural dye house for fashion and soft goods available to fashion designers, apparel companies, yarn manufacturers, and wholesalers. Recently Winona Quigley was named one of Forbes 30 under 30 for her work using food waste and rainwater to create sustainable dyes.  Dedicated to bringing pollution-free color to the fashion and textile industries, the company has also partnered with unlikely companies to eliminate waste. Green Matters recently partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill and Loomstate to use their food waste to create natural dyes from left over avocado pits. Winona uses her company to educate customers and businesses on the benefits natural dyes can contribute to waterways, customers' health, and overall planet wellbeing. Green Matter Natural Dye also encourages artisans, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to use their products to create sustainable innovation.

Dalani Tanahy is a Kapa maker, artist, and teacher who focuses on Kapa making in the Hawaiian Islands using natural dyes and pigments to create her incredible work on barkcloth. In this episode Dalani discusses some of the history of Hawaiian bark cloth and how she came to teach herself and others about natural dyes, tool making, and Kapa making.

Episode 2 features ash alberg of sunflower knit & from field to skin. ash is a queer femme and fibre witch who seeks to create beautiful and practical designs using sustainable methods. Equally importantly, they seek to nurture the skills, knowledge, and creativity of fellow fibre witches to achieve their goals.In this episode, ash discusses the intimacy and responsibility of creating with seasonal, local colors and the problematical industry standard of comparing and grading natural dyes with synthetic colorants. We also learn more about from field to skin which chronicles ash’s adventures in the Canadian fibershed.

Sarah Bellos is the founder of the natural dye production business Stoney Creek Colors which is currently focusing on growing and processing indigo for both home artisans and the larger fashion industry. We sat down together in their indigo factory in Springfield Tennessee and I had the privilege to hear about Sarah’s journey and the role Stoney Creek Colors is currently playing in the production of natural dyes. I hope you enjoy this episode of the natural dye podcast.