HÀ NỘI — A workshop on the ancient dyeing techniques of Japan and Việt Nam’s ethnic Thai people will be held at Home Studio Thai Ethnic Textile on Saturday.

At the Natural Dye and Shibori workshop, master dyer Sầm Thị Tình will teach participants ancient dyeing techniques and how to work with natural garden dyes, such as grey from tea leaves, yellow from gelsemiaceae (also known as Pui root in Thai), or red from lac ant.

Participants will also learn the traditional Japanese technique of shibori folds and tie-dyeing to create repeat patterns on different fabrics such as hemp, cotton or silk.

Participants will be able to take home their dyed creations on sample fabrics, which they can make into cushion covers or wall hangings. Fabrics such as silk, cotton and hemp will also be available for sale.

The session will have English and French translations as well. The fee is US$25 per person, which will include a 50cm-wide fabric of silk and samples of natural dyes.

Tình is an ethnic Thai woman from Hoa Tiến Village in the central province of Nghệ An. Born into a family of traditional brocade artisans, she has been weaving, dyeing and embroidering since childhood. She now runs Hoa Tiến Brocade Cooperative along with her mother, who founded it in 2010. The cooperative works to sustain and develop the traditional craftsmanship of her hometown.

For registrations and information about the workshop, call Nguyễn Huyền on 0911 610 286 or email huyen@textilelinker.com. — VNS