Natural Dyes 101

Synthetic dyes are one of the largest pollutants that come out of the fashion industry. But as long as there has been fashion, there has been color, meaning that there have been many ways to get bright colors into our textiles. We're going to walk you through a few of the techniques that we've been playing with in the lab. We'll play with some plant derrived dyes, walk you through how to make your own anthotype, and even give everyone a chance to experience using a bacterial species to dye a pattern of your choosing. Come to our lab and we'll have a day playing around with color and dyes!

You don't need to bring anything to the class other than a desire to learn. We'll provide everyone with some textiles and cultures, so no one leaves empty handed.

Courses at ChiTownBio are open to everyone, and we believe that working in a biotechnology future should be accessible to all Chicagoans, regardless of race, gender expression, sexual identity, national origin, or any other protected class. Our lab is a space for open and friendly sharing of ideas, and we are all responsible for ensuring everyone feels safe and respected. We are committed to hosting inclusive events, and will not tolerate any actions or attitudes contrary to our deeply held beliefs in inclusivity. By attending this event, you are agreeing to uphold this standard and acknowledge that the organizers reserve the right to restrict attendance.

If you have any concerns about another person's behavior, you may file a report via email with our organization's president Andy Scarpelli (andy@chitownbio.org ). ChiTownBio is a safe space for all, and we will take precautionary measures or responsive actions to uphold these ideals.