The use of environmentally friendly textiles that are naturally dyed is expanding on a global scale, and this is helping the fight to rid the world of harmful synthetic dyes. Green textiles also encourage continuity and sustainability, leading to a more secure future for all. An eco-conscious exhibition was recently organised in Kuala Lumpur by the Textile Design Department of the College of Creative Arts, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), to raise awareness of the usage of eco-dyes on natural fabrics.
Look stylish in earthy colours
The National Textile Museum in Kuala Lumpur, with four galleries on two floors, is dedicated to the very fabric of Malaysian culture. The writer spent an entire morning exploring one of its galleries, which was hosting the exhibition ‘DYECO’.
The Textile Design Department of the College of Creative Arts, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) held an all-natural eco exhibition to highlight the use of eco dyes on natural fabrics.
The department encourages students to think creatively about how they can use their skills and knowledge to create interesting artworks and products.
Natural dyeing is gradually making its way into the global market, and the production of naturally dyed eco-friendly textiles is itself a boom in the fight to protect the environment from hazardous synthetic dyes.
Because the eco-dyes are biodegradable, non-toxic, and non-allergenic, they are suitable for use by people of all ages. Green textiles also promote continuity and sustainability, resulting in a more secure future for all.
Putri, a sweet smiling student, greeted me at the entrance to the exhibition. She was approachable and friendly, and she guided me through the entire two-storey exhibition, explaining what plant extracts were used in the colour dyes of the exhibits.
It was wonderful to see so many young people interested in exploring the use of natural dyes in batik, print, and woven textiles.
Who would have thought that coffee, red cabbage, or mangosteen skin could produce such vibrant colours on textiles?
More fruits and plants were mentioned as we moved from one beautiful piece of textile or fashion to another. Surprisingly, the chillies and turmeric in our curries, the blue pea flower seen on nasi kerabu (a rice dish), the beetroot in your salad, the purple sweet potatoes we use in bubor cha cha (a dessert), and my favourite torch ginger used to flavour food are now coloured dyes on textiles. I tried to smell the fabrics. No, they didn’t smell like food.
Putri smiled widely as we approached her textile piece hanging on the wall.
“For this piece, I used bunga kantan (Etlingera elatior). It’s very familiar to me because I grew up in Malacca, and it’s widely used in cooking. I created four resist textile pieces inspired by the shape and textures of the bunga kantan, incorporating motifs, patterns, and colours. This flower produces a variety of intriguing shades, including peach, pinks, green, and light brown,” said the final-year Textile Design student.
Putri Nur Farhana hopes to one day open her own studio and merge fine art and textile to create pieces that will inspire others.
The exhibition features 27 students, but I only met a few of them on the day I visited. It’s amazing how they each create unique designs using plant-based materials. All of the fabrics used with the eco-dyes are completely natural.
Students were encouraged to use local resources that were readily available to them, resulting in benefits for local businesses and the community.
Muhammad Faiz Zahurin, who created a hand drawn batik collection, chose purple sweet potato as his subject because he fell in love with its characteristics. He used many aspects of it as inspiration for his designs, including the shape of the fruit, its textures, and even the roots. The quality of the lines, as well as the highly textured skin and roots, fascinate him.
The beautiful purple pigment, the sweetness of the fruit, and the aroma of a well-cooked delicacy all excite him!
“After graduation, I plan to pursue a Master’s degree,” said Muhammad Faiz, who aspires to be a part-time designer and lecturer.
The display on a mannequin of a top over black attire is contemporary in style.
“Rambutan is a tropical fruit that is dearly loved for its sweet, yellowish flesh,” said its designer Nurain Shafiqah Mahusin.
“The colours extracted from the rambutan skin are used in resist and silkscreen print techniques as a form of artistic expression to explore the various hues and shades from a single source of rambutan skin.”
The lovely young designer considers art and fashion to be armour against the harsh realities of everyday life.
It is admirable that these young designers are being made aware of their social responsibility as future practitioners of the textile and fashion industries by becoming more accountable for their decisions and their impact on the environment.
Let us all work together to protect Mother Earth!
