A Gucci dress dyed with lichens?

Italians and other Europeans have used plants and lichens for centuries to die fabric and fibres. More recently, they have begun to use mushrooms as natural dyes.

In the fall of 2016, I attended the 17th International Fungi & Fibre Symposium on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. It was fascinating to meet spinners, knitters, and weavers from around the world who use fungi and mushrooms as natural dyeing materials. Their exhibition of handmade, organically dyed goods from sweaters, socks and shawls to hats, plush toys and cards, wall hangings — even bright orange ceramics — was astounding.

The FibreWorks Studio in Madeira Park held its own accompanying juried show of garments and art by B.C. artists using local fibres and dyes.

For more details and photos, see my feature Fungi and Fibre in the winter 2016/17 issue of Sunshine Coast Life magazine.