• “Naturally… International Symposium/Workshop on Natural Dyes” organised by UNESCO and the Crafts Council of India in Hyderabad (India) in November 2006, attended by some 700 participants from 60 countries (traditional dyers/craftspeople, scientists, textile artists, professionals from different branches of industry, government representatives),

• ISEND 2008, organised by Pr. Kim, Ji-Hee, the Museum of Natural Dye Arts and the City of Daegu, in Daegu, Republic of Korea, in September 2008.

• In April 2011, ISEND Europe “Colors for a Greener World” under the direction of Dr Dominique Cardon and Ms. Anne De La Sayetter saw the participation of over 500 delegates from 56 countries at La Rochelle, France

This renewed economic interest raises crucial issues: sustainable development of the production and uses of natural colorants; responsible management of wild natural resources; ethical research methods respecting the rights of indigenous people regarding natural resource; and environmentally friendly production methods. If environmental implications are not properly addressed for lack of sharing and discussing of relevant knowledge, a consumer-driven development of the use of natural dyes on a massive industrial scale might lead to catastrophic plundering of natural resources in the wild. To meet the challenge of scaling production up to industrial requirements, other possibilities for advances should be investigated.

For example:

• Scientific identification and studies of traditional dye sources that are still poorly known;

• Identification, and study of the potential, of all interesting “new” sources of colorants, particularly among the waste products of plants with other primary uses (e.g. timbers, fuel plants, medicinal and aromatic plants, vegetables and fruit);

• Development of optimised cultivation methods for historical dye crops with the aim of minimizing their environmental impact or by the use of organic farming;

• Trials of the cultivation of wild dye plant species;

• Experiments with eco-friendly extraction technologies for the production of natural colorants;

• Selection of the most suitable types of natural dyes and pigments for the various applications and the most efficient methods of using them.

This brief overview highlights the importance and urgency of intensifying interdisciplinary scientific research into all potential sources and aspects of natural dyes and pigments to optimise their potential worldwide.

It also emphasises the need to build an efficient network for disseminating information, to make it widely available and visible at a global level. In addition, the marketing and promotion of natural dyes, as well as the ease, feasibility and advantages of using them in industry and fashion, need to be addressed.

W.E.F.T( WORLD ECO-FIBER AND TEXTILE) FORUM

The 1ST W.E.F.T. FORUM was started in September, 1999 at the International Ikat Weaving Forum held in Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia. Since then, the WEFT Forum has been a biennial event.

2001 (20-22 Sept): ‘BASKETRY’ and Natural Dye Workshop.
2003 (19-21 Sept): ‘Hand Painted, Printed and Decorated Textiles’.
2006 (5-7 May): ‘Textile Traditions Today’.
2008 (12-14 Sept): ‘Textiles and Fibers- The Untold Stories’
2010 (24-26 Sept): ‘Nature’s Color Code in Basketry and Textiles’

WEFT Objectives:

• To promote, share and acquire knowledge on the use of natural fibers and dyes.

• To conserve and encourage the use of natural, sustainable material in the creation of arts and crafts.

• To network amongst natural-material producers and the craftspeople through the establishment of an information database.

• To develop a marketing network e.g. trade in raw materials, dye stuff etc.

• To encourage and coordinate research and study into the traditional use of natural fiber and dyes in all forms of textile weaving, basketry, mat-weaving, plaiting etc.

• To promote the development of World-Eco Fiber and Textile Art.

• To foster cultural exchange through exhibitions, conferences, international visits by the craftspeople for the purpose of study, lectures and workshops.