Dyeing and finishing textiles is an area that comes under a lot of scrutiny, and it's not surprising; the processes require an enormous amount of resources, and used irresponsibly can have dangerous effects on workers and wearers, and cause devastating environmental atrocities. But it's not all doom and gloom! And this Masterclass will soon prove it.
We've structured this Masterclass to first outline the issues that different dyeing methods cause, then look at how to counteract these problems and uncover some incredible advances paving the way for responsible production. Finally, we hear from some ground-breaking dye companies that you can work with and brands using innovative dyeing methods.
Then, we turn to coatings and finishes - things like water repellency or flame retardancy, which are necessary for many products, and, in some cases, mandated by law. However, often the traditional solutions are full of harmful chemicals. We examine the problems with the traditional methods, and then bring you the latest technology helping to solve the problem.
In this Masterclass you will learn:
- How to work with a dye lab, and even introduce more sustainable practices
- Tips for placing bulk dye orders and accurately matching colours along with sourcing dye labs for small quantities
- The most dangerous chemicals and substances to know and avoid
- Which chemicals are actually good
- How to test your clothing for chemicals
- What to do when your supplier isn't transparent about their chemical usage
- The social and environmental impacts of dyes
- Innovations in dyeing technology, such as waterless dyeing
- About the Roadmap To Zero campaign and how it is changing the production of fast fashion businesses
- The fundamentals of natural dyeing, including practical steps
- How to work with natural dyes on an industrial scale, including the opportunities for natural dyeing commercially
- How to work with an indigo vat and experiment with shibori dyeing
- The problems with traditional coatings and finishes, such as waterproofing, flame retardancy and stain repellency
- The new technologies being developed around waterproofing fabrics
- The new technologies being developed to flame proof fabrics
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Essential Things to Know About Dyeing, Society of Dyers and Colourists
with Society of Dyers & ColouristsSummary
The Society of Dyers and Colourists is the world’s leading independent, educational charity delivering technical colouration expertise. Their mission is to educate the changing world in the science of colour. In this video, they drill down the absolute "must-know" facts when it comes to the world of outsourcing dyeing, dyes to watch out for and how to source responsibly dyed fabrics.
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The Negative Impacts of Dyeing
with Charlie Bradley RossSummary
In my opinion, producing designs responsibly comes down to some good old fashioned common sense. When you arm yourself with the knowledge of what makes dyeing unsustainable and understand the irresponsible practices to avoid, you will naturally begin to ask your suppliers the right questions and be able to help those who aren't already, move towards more ethical practices.
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Types of Hazardous Chemicals Involved in Dyeing & Finishing
with Charlie Bradley RossSummary
We get down to the nitty-gritty and investigate the harmful solvents and chemicals used in the dyeing and finishing processes so that you know the names to watch out for and eliminate in your own production.
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Solutions to Irresponsible Dyeing & Finishing Practices
with Charlie Bradley RossSummary
Now that we've identified the issues caused by irresponsible dyeing and finishing and the chemicals and solvents to avoid, we take a look at the businesses cleaning up production (my favourite part) and how you can avoid harmful methods yourself.
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Sustainable Chemical Dyes, Archroma
with Paul CowellSummary
This is an in-depth 30 minute Lesson from specialty chemicals company Archroma. They are focussed on providing sustainable solutions for the textiles, paper, packaging, adhesives and sealants industries. It is their aim to be the world’s most sustainable speciality chemical company - and wow are they doing some seriously amazing stuff! From halving the amount of water needed to dye a t-shirt, to creating a recipe book of over 4000 colours using responsible ingredients - we could not have had asked for a better introduction to the world of sustainable dyes on an industrial scale.
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Introduction to Natural Dyeing and Doing It Yourself
with Flora ArbuthnottSummary
Natural dyeing is an ancient practice that has been in decline since the rise of the synthetic dye industry. Flora Arbuthnott is passionate about rediscovering the lost knowledge of natural dyeing. A textile designer and wild plant enthusiast, Flora is an expert in creating colours on cloth using locally available plants. She loves exploring her local environment, getting to know the wild plants that surround her, and seeking out ways to work with them.
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Working With Natural Dyes on a Large Scale, Indigenous Industries
with Vincent DeclétySummary
It is often heard that the process of natural dyeing isn't replicable on a large scale - so we thought we would do a spot of myth-busting and talk to an inspiring company creating natural dyes in bulk.
Indigenous Industries promotes traditional, sustainable production processes. Founded in 2014, they manufacture fabrics and ready-made clothing for labels and fashion designers worldwide, connecting designers with innovative textiles and ethical processes.
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Indigo and Shibori
with Rob JonesSummary
London-based shibori textiles designer and natural dyer, Rob Jones, founded Romor Designs in the autumn of 2015. Rob's love of Shibori, the ancient Japanese art of resist dyeing, took him to Japan to study under the indigo guru, Bryan Whitehead. Today, his passion is finding the new in the old, building on the tradition and centuries of skill that shibori has behind it. He believes in taking work in new directions by combining techniques and inventing his own forms.
“I love pattern and am endlessly fascinated by the way natural dyes move through fabric. Although I determine the form of the patterns I create, I still get excited to see how the dye has moved every time I open a new piece ”
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Sofia Ilmonen & A Bespoke Natural Hand-Dyed Collection
with Sofia IlmonenSummary
Sofia Ilmonen is a Finnish fashion designer based in London. Alongside her full-time job as a seamstress for Alexander McQueen, Sofia works on her brand, creating highly textural and tactile pieces using natural dyeing and handcraft techniques. Not Just a Label scouted Sofia to be one of the Black Sheep Designers, and her work has also been covered by British Vogue, Vogue Italia, I-D and Garage.
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Scaling Natural Dyes For Fashion
with Raaja RajanSummary
How do you scale production of naturally dyed garments so that they have social, economic, and environmental benefits for all involved?
We were joined by Raaja Rajan, the Chief of Operations for Natural Dye House, to learn more about the key considerations for scaling natural dyes for fashion.
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The Problem with Traditional Coatings and Finishes
with Charlie Bradley RossSummary
We are in constant contact with textiles in our environment – from our clothes, to bedding, to the other fabrics in our home.
Often, these fabrics are treated or have coatings added to them for added properties – e.g. fire or water resistance – and these treatments may be full of harmful chemicals known to cause cancer and reduce fertility, amongst other health impacts.
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Toxic Fashion: Chemicals in the Textile Industry
with Alice HyllstamSummary
Are you wearing new clothes without washing them? Do you know how to remove formaldehyde from clothing (... yes, there may be cancer-causing formaldehyde in your wardrobe!)
Understanding the chemicals used in clothing manufacturing and the production of textiles is central to the debate around sustainable fashion.
In this webinar, experts from Chemsec discuss the topic and take questions. Find out once and for all the impact your designs are having on the environment and the people who make them, and how to reduce it.
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Regulations and Directives for Textiles
with Sarah BlackhamSummary
A roundup of essential information from existing lessons Introduction to Regulations and Directives and Regulations and Directives for Toys, Childrenswear and UV Accessories.
Product technologist Sarah Blackham introduces what regulations and directives are, along with highlighting critical chemical tests, laboratories and websites to get you started on material and product testing.
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Sustainable Water Resistant Finishes And Low-Impact Textile Waterproofing Techniques
with The SFC TeamSummary
The ability to make fabrics water resistant - especially for use as garments and outdoor textiles - is crucial to the textile industry. However, as we have already established in our lesson on traditional coatings and finishes, many of these coatings are not without their harmful consequences.
This lesson will take you through some new, ethical solutions to waterproofing fabrics.
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The Dangers of Fire Resistant Finishes and Eco-friendly Alternatives
with The SFC TeamSummary
Flame retardancy is a vital requirement for many textile applications, mainly in upholstery and interiors. So much so, in fact, that legislation was passed in 1998 that mandated for interiors and upholstery fabrics to be treated with flame retardant finishes. These regulations are in place to prevent the safety of the users, of such textiles, and it is important that they are complied with.
However, that does not mean that harmful chemicals need necessarily be used.
Interviews
Past Events

Toxic Fashion: Chemicals Used In The Textile Industry
Tuesday Jan 1st, 2019 - 00:00am
Eco Friendly Natural Dyeing For Your Brand
Wednesday Oct 3rd, 2018 - 18:00pmAdditional Links
Hazardous chemical substances in textiles
Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Guidelines for Brands and Retailers
bluesign® system substances list (BSSL) Consumer safety limits
Restricted Substances List
Release of formaldehyde from textiles
Creating ‘greener’ wrinkle-resistant cotton fabric
Hazardous chemical substances in textiles
Biobased Packaging Materials for the Food Industry
Safety And Health Issues In The Textile Industry
How pollution in the global textiles supply chain is making viscose toxic
Dirty Fashion on track for transformation
European survey on the release of formaldehyde from textiles
IARC CLASSIFIES FORMALDEHYDE AS CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS
The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Programme
Made for change
Petit Pli
C&A
DyStar
AirDye
ColorZen
Seacolours
DyeCoo
Follow on Masterclasses:
Eco Friendly Inks And Printing
Demystifying Certifications and Standards
Additional Reading
Sustainable Fashion In Australia - Menswear!
Tuesday Jan 31st, 2017
An interview with the founder of the sustainable footwear brand MDMAshoes
Tuesday Nov 1st, 2016
The Search For Sustainable Denim
Friday Aug 19th, 2016
The Biggest Environmental Problem You've Never Heard Of, But Daily Contribute To...
Thursday Jun 2nd, 2016
OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT: How To Find Toxic Chemicals In Your Fabric
Thursday May 19th, 2016
What Are Bio Pigments? The Future Of Eco Dyeing!
Thursday May 12th, 2016
Recycled Yarns Saving Lives
Friday Apr 29th, 2016
How Are Animals Treated In Your Supply Chain?
Wednesday Apr 13th, 2016
The Beauty Of Hand Block Printing
Thursday Apr 7th, 2016
Behind the Scenes: What Is The Indigo Dyeing Process?
Tuesday Feb 23rd, 2016