Dutch designers Nienke Hoogvliet and Xandra van der Eijk have collaborated on a project investigating the application of natural seaweed dyes, which they propose as a sustainable solution for the textile industry. Exhibited at Dutch Design Week last month, the designers’ Colors of the Oosterschelde project was the culmination of an ongoing experiment with various algae species, which Hoogvliet and van der Eijk envision as a viable natural resource for dye production.
Focusing on the coastal Oosterschelde region of the Netherlands, Hoogvliet and van der Eijk set about collecting 20 different species of algae, from which they were able to extract a surprisingly nuanced range of colors—shades of brown, green, gold and pink. Testing the dyes on a range of materials, including cotton, wool, and silk, the designers presented a wide selection of yarns and fabrics on which the dyes were impressively showcased.
Algae’s intrinsic properties, not the least of which is its ability to grow rapidly, render the material an untapped resource with potential to provide a significant ecologically sensitive option for the textile industry. Moreover, the dyes were created using sea water, not fresh water, ensuring no drinkable resources were wasted in the process.
Via Domus
