Soul Clothing: re-WILD your wardrobe with healing plant colours
Retreat to the country for a weekend of botanical creativity surrounded by the majestic Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself (and your clothing) in one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.
The retreat includes gentle tuition in the ancient art of natural fabric dyeing using locally foraged plant dyes along with the venue’s botanical food waste. To help you adopt the pace of nature, simple breathing and meditation techniques will be offered along with opportunities to explore the idyllic surroundings.
During the weekend, we’ll discuss how simple crafts like natural dyeing, mending and upcycling can be a form of creative activism offering an antidote to the pollution caused by fast fashion, petrochemical fabric manufacturing and synthetic dyeing.
Plants can heal, not only when eaten but also when worn. Experiencing natural fabrics and colours is a sensory pleasure with good provenance that also makes an important statement about environmental sustainability.
You’ll be shown how to safely pre-treat your fabric, identify and extract dye, create patterns using ancient Japanese shibori techniques and record the unique imprint of a flower or leaf on cloth. You’ll be given the time and space for some outdoor (weather permitting) mantra embroidery inspired by your surroundings.
After a peaceful weekend wandering, gathering and creating, you’ll return to everyday life wearing a soulful piece of clothing imbued with the colours, patterns and prints of this time and place – a memento of your unique experience.
about our venue
Our scenic venue is an 18 acre estate on the edge of a lake, in a valley with views to the tallest mountain in England and Wales, Snowdon. This mystical location has long been associated with Arthurian legends and ancient Celtic folklore.
Within the grounds you’ll discover gardens, woodland, a wildflower meadow and a stream meandering down to the lake. Single, en suite accommodation and home-made vegetarian meals are included* using produce grown in accordance with Bio-dynamic principals and without fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. We will be collaborating with the gardeners and cooks by re-using the by-products of their creativity.
*depending on your booking option
about your teacher
Justine Aldersey-Williams is a textile designer and teacher specialising in natural fabric dyeing. She founded The Wild Dyery in 2015, having spent many years teaching both textiles and yoga to children and adults. Having established her own design label and produced a best-selling indigo dye kit, Justine has since created the first comprehensive online training in natural fabric dyeing which she teaches to students worldwide. She also teaches live workshops and yearly retreats. Justine’s holistic approach to textiles is enriched by her experience as a yoga teacher and student. She believes in the therapeutic power of natural creativity and includes simple techniques to help her students tune-in to the pace of nature.
retreat itinerary*
Friday 1st June 2018
4pm arrive at venue, gather for tea and cakes then settle in to your accommodation
5pm guided tour of the grounds and guide to safely foraging for natural dyes
6pm 1st dyeing session: introduction to natural dyeing presentation, fabric preparation
7pm evening meal then free time to explore or rest
Saturday 2nd June 2018
8am - 9am breakfast
10am 2nd dyeing session: preparing the vats, sampling on different fabrics, shibori patterns and dyeing your first garment
1pm lunch
2pm 3rd dyeing session: foraging for contact print materials and eco printing your second garment
4pm tea and cakes
4:30pm free time to explore or rest
7pm dinner
8pm group discussion around the bonfire (weather permitting)
Sunday 3rd June 2018
8am – 9am breakfast
10am 4th dyeing session: mantra embroidery 'en plein air' and displaying/modelling (optional!) your garments
1pm lunch
2pm group photo and goodbyes!
* provisional and subject to amendments
booking
There are 2 ticket options; full board and workshop only for those who live locally and want to just attend the workshop without overnight accommodation.
There is an EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT when you buy your ticket before 6th May 2018 but you MUST enter the coupon code: SC25 on the booking page to claim this reduced ticket.
option 1: FULL BOARD (pay now in full): Fee £385 or £360 with Early Bird discount coupon code: SC25
This includes single ensuite accommodation, all meals and refreshments plus workshop tuition, sampling materials and equipment. This does not include your transport to and from the venue or the two small garments e.g. white T shirt, leggings, that you'd like to dye. Further details about what to bring with you will be emailed within 2 weeks of the start date.
option 2: WORKSHOP ONLY (pay now in full): Fee £265 or £240 with Early Bird discount coupon code: SC25
This includes workshop tuition, sampling materials and equipment plus lunch and refreshments on Saturday and Sunday. This does not include your transport to and from the venue or the two small garments e.g. white T shirt, leggings, that you'd like to dye. Further details about what to bring with you will be emailed within 2 weeks of the start date.
book now