Discover the Beauty of Natural Dyeing

At Imbali, we believe that creativity is a lifelong journey—one that connects us to tradition, community, and the natural world around us. We are always looking for ways to learn, grow, and empower others through meaningful skills that can enrich lives and open new opportunities.

That is why we are excited to share that this week, the women of Creative Hands and a group of Roma women from the Petalouda Education Program, led by our dear friend Sarah Wheway, will be participating in a Natural Dyeing Workshop.

This special workshop will be led by George Petsikopoulos, a visual artist and natural dyer whose passion for traditional craft and sustainable practices has inspired many people to rediscover the colours found in nature.

We would be deeply grateful for your support. Whether through your prayers, encouragement, or financial contribution, you can help make it possible for these six women to take part in this transformative experience.

Why Natural Dyeing?

At Creative Hands, we have always sought ways to empower women with practical and creative skills. Over the years, we have seen how learning a craft can build confidence, provide new opportunities, and create a sense of purpose and community.

For me personally, this workshop is especially meaningful. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a natural dyeing workshop myself, and it left a lasting impression. Ever since then, I have dreamed of bringing this skill to the women we work with.

The timing could not be better.

As Imbali continues to grow, we hope to expand our work to include products made from our own handwoven and naturally dyed textiles. We are also excited about the possibility of growing some of our own dye plants and herbs, allowing us to connect even more deeply with the creative process—from seed to fibre to finished textile.

Natural dyeing beautifully complements weaving. Both are slow, intentional crafts that invite us to work with patience, creativity, and respect for the materials we use.

About the Workshop

Colors from Nature: Foundations of Natural Dyeing

This one-day introductory workshop is designed to provide participants with a practical and accessible introduction to traditional natural dyeing techniques.

Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, participants will explore the complete natural dyeing process, including:

Fabric Preparation

Participants will learn about scouring, the process of thoroughly cleaning textiles to remove oils, starches, glues, and industrial finishes that can interfere with dye absorption.

Understanding Mordants

The workshop will introduce mordants and explain their role in helping natural dyes bond with fabric. Participants will discover how different mordants can influence colour outcomes and improve colour fastness while also learning safe and environmentally responsible practices.

Extracting Colour from Nature

Using roots, bark, leaves, peels, minerals, and other natural materials, participants will learn how colour is extracted and transformed into vibrant dyes.

Immersion Dyeing

The final stage of the workshop will focus on immersion dyeing techniques. Participants will create their own collection of naturally dyed fabric swatches while experimenting with different fibres and dye materials.

What Participants Will Learn

By the end of the workshop, participants will have:

• A solid understanding of the foundations of natural dyeing

• Knowledge of scouring, mordanting, and dye extraction methods

• Experience working with a variety of natural dye materials

• A collection of naturally dyed fabric samples

• Practical skills to continue exploring natural dyeing independently

Workshop Duration: 6 Hours

Join Us for Future Natural Dyeing Workshops

This workshop marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Imbali.

In the coming months, we hope to offer Natural Dyeing Workshops as part of our growing range of creative learning experiences. Whether you are a textile enthusiast, artist, maker, weaver, or simply curious about traditional crafts, we would love for you to join us and discover the beauty of colours created by nature.

These workshops will offer an opportunity not only to learn a new skill but also to connect with others, slow down, and experience the joy of creating with your hands.

If you are interested in participating in future workshops, we encourage you to follow Imbali on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for upcoming dates and announcements.

Help Us Empower Women Through Creativity

As part of this initiative, we would like to financially support six women from Creative Hands so they can fully participate in this workshop and benefit from this valuable learning opportunity.

For many of these women, workshops like this provide more than technical skills. They offer confidence, encouragement, creative expression, and the possibility of developing skills that can contribute to future income-generating opportunities.

We would be deeply grateful for your support. Whether through your prayers, encouragement, or financial contribution, you can help make it possible for these six women to take part in this transformative experience.

Together, we can continue creating opportunities for women to learn, grow, and flourish.

Thank you for being part of the Imbali and Creative Hands journey. We are excited about what lies ahead and look forward to sharing more of this adventure with you.

With gratitude,

Cecilia Sakatira

Imbali Studio & Creative Hands