Her Name Is Indigo.

jandofabrics

 

When we think about African fabric design, rarely do we as consumers give much thought as to the history, craft, and meaning behind the symbols, patterns, or design elements we see. Instead we ‘ooh‘ and ‘aah‘ at the bright colors and creative print, thinking about what we can make with this, what we can do with that . But until we have the opportunity to see its manifestation from concept to completion, we will never really appreciate the finished textile  that seems to silently whisper…i am special, buy me!

jandofabrics

Go Green Gina: Top Natural Fabric Dyes.

In the world of eco-friendly dyeing, there are several traditional and modern-day sources of coloring used to bring just the right energy and aura to a fabric. And whether you are a do-it-youself kinda crafter or are content with purchasing your material already naturally dyed, here is a list of some of the more common plant, animal, vegetable and/or mineral agents for those vibrant yellows, burnt oranges, indigo blues and deep reds that call out to us from across the fabric isles.  

Go Green Gina’s: Natural vs Synthetic Dyeing on Fabric

In the world of eco-friendly dyeing, use of natural dyes and is not always enough to ensure its benefits over harsher, chemical based dyeing techniques. From the dye source, to the final step of color retention, much can occur in the manufacturing process that environmentally conscious consumers need to be aware of before purchasing what is considered to be a ‘safe’ fabric.

Indigo- The Natural Insect Repellent

Tired of burning insect repelling coils, polluting the air with toxic bug sprays and lotioning up with toxic chemical based pesticides throughout the year, especially in the summer and rainy seasons? If so, why not trade in your N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide and 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid1-methylpropyl ester) based insect repellent solutions for something a little more natural, a bit more eco and human friendly, and a lot easier to read. With the threat of Lymes Disease and other bacterial viruses that mosquitos can carry, protecting your family and environment has never been more necessary.