Dyeing with Fungi
As an integral component of the MycoColors research project, a colour library is established to catalog and showcase the diverse range of hues, shades, and tones achievable through fungal colourants, extracted from fruiting bodys and cultures grown in bioreactors. This colour library serves as a, ever growing, visual repository of natural colours derived from fungi, providing inspiration and guidance for future dyeing experiments and creative endeavors.
The primary purpose of the colour library is to document and organise the findings of the research, allowing for easy reference and exploration of fungal-derived hues. Additionally, the colour library serves as a tool for researchers, designers, artists, and enthusiasts interested in utilising fungaldyes for various applications, including textiles, art, and design.
The colour library is designed to grow and evolve over time as the MycoColors research project progresses and new findings emerge. As researchers explore additional fungal species, optimise cultivation and extraction techniques, and conduct further dyeing experiments, new colours will be added to the library, enriching its depth and diversity.
The colour library is made accessible to project collaborators, partners, and the public through both physical and digital formats. A physical colour swatch library may be established, containing samples of dyed textiles showcasing the range of colours achievable with fungal pigments. Additionally, a digital database or online platform may be developed to provide easy access to colour information, allowing users to search, browse, and discover fungal-derived hues remotely.
This part of the work focuses on the application of fungal dyes. It aims to provide interested individuals with an overview and access to a guide on dyeing with the fruiting bodys of certain fungi, which can be sourced in woods around the globe. To dye with fungi, you will need fresh or dried fruiting bodys to produce the dye broth, a textile substrate like cotton, silk or wool, mordants (optional), and dyeing equipment such as pots, stirrers, and gloves.
Preparation involves creating the fungal dye broth using documented extraction methods. If desired, pre-treat the textile substrate with mordants according to recommended procedures.
The dyeing process begins by heating the fungal dye bath to the appropriate temperature, typically around 50-70°C, this is depending on the used textiles. Then, immerse the pre-treated textile substrate into the dye bath, ensuring thorough saturation, by stirring and moving around of the textile material. Maintain the dye bath temperature and incubate the textile substrate for the desired duration, usually 1-2 hours. Periodically agitate the textile substrate in the dye bath to ensure even coloration.
After dyeing, remove the dyed textile substrate from the dye bath and rinse it thoroughly with water to remove excess dye. Finally, hang or lay the dyed textile substrate flat to air dry, avoiding direct sunlight if possible.
Dyeing with Fungi
As an integral component of the MycoColors research project, a colour library is established to catalog and showcase the diverse range of hues, shades, and tones achievable through fungal colourants, extracted from fruiting bodys and cultures grown in bioreactors. This colour library serves as a, ever growing, visual repository of natural colours derived from fungi, providing inspiration and guidance for future dyeing experiments and creative endeavors.
The primary purpose of the colour library is to document and organise the findings of the research, allowing for easy reference and exploration of fungal-derived hues. Additionally, the colour library serves as a tool for researchers, designers, artists, and enthusiasts interested in utilising fungaldyes for various applications, including textiles, art, and design.
The colour library is designed to grow and evolve over time as the MycoColors research project progresses and new findings emerge. As researchers explore additional fungal species, optimise cultivation and extraction techniques, and conduct further dyeing experiments, new colours will be added to the library, enriching its depth and diversity.
The colour library is made accessible to project collaborators, partners, and the public through both physical and digital formats. A physical colour swatch library may be established, containing samples of dyed textiles showcasing the range of colours achievable with fungal pigments. Additionally, a digital database or online platform may be developed to provide easy access to colour information, allowing users to search, browse, and discover fungal-derived hues remotely.
This part of the work focuses on the application of fungal dyes. It aims to provide interested individuals with an overview and access to a guide on dyeing with the fruiting bodys of certain fungi, which can be sourced in woods around the globe. To dye with fungi, you will need fresh or dried fruiting bodys to produce the dye broth, a textile substrate like cotton, silk or wool, mordants (optional), and dyeing equipment such as pots, stirrers, and gloves.
Preparation involves creating the fungal dye broth using documented extraction methods. If desired, pre-treat the textile substrate with mordants according to recommended procedures.
The dyeing process begins by heating the fungal dye bath to the appropriate temperature, typically around 50-70°C, this is depending on the used textiles. Then, immerse the pre-treated textile substrate into the dye bath, ensuring thorough saturation, by stirring and moving around of the textile material. Maintain the dye bath temperature and incubate the textile substrate for the desired duration, usually 1-2 hours. Periodically agitate the textile substrate in the dye bath to ensure even coloration.
After dyeing, remove the dyed textile substrate from the dye bath and rinse it thoroughly with water to remove excess dye. Finally, hang or lay the dyed textile substrate flat to air dry, avoiding direct sunlight if possible.