Eco Textiles in the Sixth Form
Textiles artists in the Sixth Form are combining creativity and sustainability for a course with a unique focus on Eco Textiles.
At a time when humans exhaust the planet’s resources and overuse plastics and chemicals in the production of textiles, Headington’s Art and Textiles departments are embracing nature and reverting to the use of natural dyes, inks and printing methods.
This term, L6 students have produced their own inks to produce botanical drawings made from plants grown in their own gardens and around the school campus.
These will be developed into designs which will be printed in natural ink pastes made from medieval plants which Mrs Turnbull, Head of Textiles at Headington, has been growing in her garden over lockdown.
Mrs Turnbull said: “Planting on our very own dye garden is underway at The Hive and we look forward to harvesting our own plant matter next Spring and Autumn for use in the Art Studio.
“Next up is bundle dyeing, indigo dyeing and eco paper printing. We will blend these old craft traditions with modern innovations to create some high-tech textiles which we are excited to share with you in the future.”
The Hive, Headington’s new Creativity & Innovation Centre, is currently under construction and is due to open in September 2021.
