In the lead up to WEFT next month we wanted to do a series of posts about the workshops, talks and crafts which are going to be showcased during the exhibition. Our first WEFT Focus is Babs Behan and the Bristol Cloth talk.
Babs Behan is a natural dyer and specialist of non-toxic natural dyeing, inks and printmaking and bioregional regenerative textile systems, Author of “Botanical Inks Plant-To-Print Dyes, Techniques and Projects” (Quadrille 2018), Founder of Botanical Inks non-toxic natural dye studio and the Bristol Cloth project, as seen on BBC News, BBC Countryfile & Sky News.
Her clients include: the Saatchi Gallery, Tate Museum, Facebook London, Jo Malone, V&A Museum, Hauser + Wirth, Ace Hotel, Soho Farmhouse, Lush LTD, Barbican Centre, Selvedge Magazine & Fashion and Textiles Museum London amongst many others.
“I am committed to the possibility of global environmental regeneration. Through working with bioregional textile systems and natural colours”
With my work I am creating the possibility of global environmental and cultural regeneration, starting in my bio-region, the South West of England. I am making a stand for non-toxic bio-regional systems worldwide and sharing my knowledge, skills and experience with others to collectively create a global detoxification movement in our global creative industries. I seek to inspire others to join this movement through my work with natural dyes by offering training sessions for environmental visionaries, cultural disruptors and fashion activists online who want to join me in making a stand for bioregional non toxic textile systems. My work is founded on using systems which use no harmful synthetic chemicals in any stage of the growing/farming and processing (ie. fertilisers, detergents, bleach, fixatives, dyes, finishers, stiffeners etc). Treats all those who are part of the supply chain and distribution network, with respect and care. This requires fair pay terms for all, and paying the true value of materials and services. We only work with non-toxic dye producers and fibre farmers who demonstrate high standards of land stewardship and animal husbandry.
