About

This class has been postponed until September or October. Please watch future email announcements.




In this class, we focus our attention on how to make, use, and maintain an organic indigo vat using the 1-2-3 method popularized by Michel Garcia of France.  This method is easy, effective, non-toxic, and uses a much gentler chemical suite than industrial indigo ingredients.  

We will learn about indigo and its history, and participants will work on creating samples from provided fabric to understand how to layer and build color.  How to balance and maintain this kind of vat will also be covered.  Then the vats will be opened for individual dipping!  

Materials and What to Bring: Each person can bring a small selection of fabrics to experiment and dip, and we will provide guidelines and support.  Participants will be able to take home a portion of the vats to continue their indigo practice.  A selection of natural indigo will be available for sale. 

Skill Level: Universal.  All skill levels welcome.

Ages: Ages 14+ Welcome.

Bring a bag lunch. We have a refrigerator for people to store their lunches and drinks!

Instructor Bio: Kathy Hattori is a recognized authority on natural dyes and pigments as well as commercial applications using natural dyes and has been a pioneer in the field since 2003.  She is the founder and President of Botanical Colors,through which she sells organically certified dyes to artisans and industrial clients seeking a more sustainable, natural color palette.

In addition to consulting and advising companies on their natural dye implementation strategies, Kathy has worked with the largest natural dye houses in the U.S. Her international experience includes creating a natural dye program for the largest organically certified tannery in Europe and implementing large-scale natural dye programs.

She has also consulted and advised a number of major retail brands, and worked on a USDA VAPG grant in 2013 for natural dye research.

In 2016, Botanical Colors was named a Sustainability Leadership Award finalist by Sustainable Seattle and continues to grow working with major fashion brands worldwide.

She currently teaches and lectures about natural dyes and is sought after as a speaker about the status of natural dyes in global textile production as well as scaling natural color.