Robbia
Herbs - Dyeing roots for infusions
Price range: 14,00€ through 45,00€
La Robbia narrates its red as a long song of the earth: the roots, intertwined and deep, hold alizarin and pigments that, when infused, give off warm, multifaceted baths capable of infusing the fibres with a vibrant chromatic richness.
In the slow, artisanal practices of natural dyeing, the roots are harvested, broken or left whole, immersed in water and brought to a slow simmer until the liquid takes on tones ranging from warm orange to brick reds.
Silk and wool receive lustre and depth, cotton, linen and hemp receive more earthy and delicate nuances.
The final shade is the result of the combination of many elements: duration and concentration of the infusion, water quality, temperature, the ratio of root to fibre, and the use of natural mordants such as alum or ferrous solutions that modulate the colouring.
Each madder bath is a patient ritual: one observes the changes, accepts the unpredictability of the natural and celebrates the uniqueness of each piece - a living colour, sustainable and charged with memory.
Infusions
A infusion for dyeing is a colouring solution obtained from dyeing herbs, leaves or roots dried and chopped up to look like a herbal tea; they are put into hot water to extract the pigments and a colour bath is obtained in which yarns or fabrics are dipped for dyeing.
Doses and timing
Maeko avoids going into details concerning proportions, doses and specific times, leaving such information to those who already have experience in natural dyeing.
It is essential that those approaching this process have the freedom to experiment and adapt the techniques according to their own needs and experience.
Here we offer an extensive showcase, designed to encourage the practice of hand-dyeing and stimulate everyone's creativity.
