INTERNATIONAL MASTERCLASS IN INDIGO DYE – GLASGOW 1-2 OCTOBER 2026

Indigo dying is one of the most unique process on Earth to colour from plant to fiber. Used for thousands of years by countless cultures using so many different processes it has been classified as magical by many, We talk about Achemy often and many novice dyers are afraid of failing so much so that they delay their starting working with it.

I for many years retreated my blue dyeing behind the simple chemical thiox vat before I engaged with the Indigo community around 10 years ago and starting travelling to learn from Masters and practitioners. Now I feel so at ease with plants and processes and my aim is to teach my Indigo Ferrous vat to many students in Europe to give them the freedom to learn how to create blue with one of their Heritage vats. I also want to educate my dyers to understand the chemistry of it to allow them to stay in control and able to keep their vat alive as long as they need it. I keep myself a large 200 L vat in my studio which I tend to daily when at home. It is a lovely process that connects me with my colours.

I love growing the Indigo plants here in Scotland, they give me a chance to push my learning of the Blue dye further every summer season. Since 2021 I have grown several beds of Persicaria Tinctoria (Japanese Indigo) and of Isatis Tinctoria (Woad). The beautiful plants harvested towards the end of the summer give me a chance to experiment further and learn how to get the most colour as possible from a plant that started its life here as a seed. A true circle of life… This year I have planted a bed outside The Auld Kirk (Kirkintilloch) just outside Glasgow. During “Shades of Blue” I will offer visitors to the exhibition the chance to learn about the magical blue you can generate on silk fibers through just a rubbing process.

In 2020 I visited Mann’s garden in Sakhon Nakhon to learn from him how to extract the glorious pigment from plants but also how to create a Tamarind vat, the local vat from Northern Thailand with as many recipees as there are dyers there. A truly sustainable process it uses the dark pigment and slow sugar of the Tamarind fruit to create dark blues on cotton. Two years ago I planted a bamboo in the garden, every Decembers to visit the garden to check on the plants and share a bit more with Mann about sustainable dyeing. We each feed each others desire to learn more and more…

Mann Craft is a natural dyer, textile artist and weaver from Northern Thailand. He created in the early 2020’s a Natural dye garden in his district which has gradually become a center of excellence for Natural dyes and receives the visit of hundreds of students every year. I visit yearly to exchange and bring groups there to teach them about sustainable dyeing. He will be honor guest during my “Shades of Blue” exhibition.

Mann Craft and myself are delighted to invite you to a two day masterclass about INDIGO… On the 1st and 2nd of October at The Auld Kirk of Kirkintilloch (outside Glasgow, Scotland).

Over two days we will:

• teach you how to set up both a Tamarind vat and a Ferrous vat.
• Practise Fresh leaves Indigo from the Persicaria leaves grown outside the Museum
• Learn to prepare and dye material to produce several shades of blue.
• Have a conversation about sustainable dyeing, growing Indigo, making vats
• Create some pattern on fabric using recycled material.
• Visit the “Shades of Blue” exhibition.

You will leave with:

• three new processes to create blue from Indigo plants/pigments
• some samples of decent sizes dyes in a variety of blue.

This Masterclass is perfect for:

• Students in natural dyeing, textile and design
• Blue lovers
• Hobbyists who are interested in Natural colours.

This Masterclass is not for you if :

• You are under 18 (under 18 but over 16 with another adult participant is ok)
• You have mobility issues (for Indigo dyeing you need to stand around and move quite a bit) there will be another workshop organised within this month that is more suited for you.

What you need to bring:

• Gloves and apron (or old clothes)
• Camera and note book for record.
• Lunch and snacks, but coffees and teas are supplied

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

• Parking is available on a first come first served basis at the back of the Museum
• The Bus route 89 from Glasgow city center brings you near the Museum
• There are tons of great cafe’s for buying lunch and snacks on the day.
• Number of participants is limited to 10, you will get a great opportunity to great information and unique processes.

FOR BOOKING A SPACE PLEASE USE THE LINK BELOW, APOLOGIES BUT NO SPONSORED SPACES ARE AVAILABLE THIS TIME AS THE INCOME RECEIVED WILL FINANCE THE TRAVEL COSTS OF MANN CRAFT FOR THE EXHIBITION.