Led by our current Artist in Residence Phong Chi Lai of Studio PCL and ATW Dye Lab Assistant Heather Thomas, experiment with a gentler way to colour cloth.

In his own practice, designer/maker Phong Chi Lai prioritises social and environmental care through his use of natural dyes, and using reclaimed fibres foraged from his immediate environment.

From sustainably sourced materials and fabrics Phong Chi Lai and Heather Thomas will teach you a range of dyeing techniques including over dyeing, bundle and resist dyeing.

Learn to elevate your wardrobe and re-use common household leftovers by creating an ever evolving palette of colours sources from the environment around you.

This workshop is presented as part of the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Independent Programme.

WHEN: Saturday 9 March 2024; 12PM-4PM

WHERE: The Australian Tapestry Workshop

COST: Adult $155 | Friend $145 | Concession $135

MATERIALS: All materials supplied.

SKILL LEVEL: No experience necessary. Minimum age is 16 years.

BOOK HERE

About Phong Chi Lai (Studio PCL)

After several years as a shoe designer/maker, Phong Chi Lai took the opportunity to research & work in textile-based social enterprises in Vietnam, Nepal, China and India. This reinforced the social and environmental care that has always underpinned his ethos as an artisan – slow, functional luxury, made by hand.

Taking inspiration from his experiences, Lai developed his own textile practice based in Tasmania. Now based in Melbourne, he turns to his immediate environment as his source of raw materials - natural dyes made from plants, reclaimed wool, cotton & linen.

About Heather Thomas (Wild Heather)

Wild Heather is a textile studio run by maker Heather Thomas. Heather has been exploring the plant kingdom, the extraction of colour, working with natural fibres, plant colour for more than two decades. She imparts her knowledge and expertise through regular workshops, symposiums and consultations within the textile industry while offering commercial clients the possibility of sustainable colour production.

Heather received a 2020 Churchill Fellowship for her research into commercial production of plant dyed fibres and travelled to Japan and North America mid year to investigate the natural dye industry abroad. With a degree in the Arts/Indonesian language and Advanced Diploma of Arts in Studio Textiles (RMIT 2011), Heather was awarded first place in the Dreamweaver Design Award sponsored by Warwick Fabrics in 2008.

She joined the ATW as Dye Lab Assistant in late 2023, working alongside the ATW's Master Dyer, Tony Stefanovski.