Have fun exploring the art of natural dyeing at home. Lara has selected Eucalyptus microcorys leaves and purple carrot to experiment with, as these produce the most unique and unexpected colours… Eucalyptus microcorys Tallowwood is a tree Lara grew up with, but never knew the secrets it held until many years later in her textile journey. There was a huge tree with rough bark in her backyard growing up, and as kids, they had a rope-swing hanging from it, and had countless hours of fun playing high energy games with those branches. It probably fueled her imaginations in ways that she didn’t realise at the time. Its leaves can be used as a textile dye for both block dyeing and contact...
Peace silk, also called Ahimsa silk, is a revolutionary type of silk which was developed in the 1990s and which follows the principles of Ahimsa, meaning “not to injure” and “compassion”, a key virtue in Hinduism. Unlike conventional silk, where the cocoon as a whole is boiled, therefore killing the worm, the Ahimsa process consists of leaving the silk worm to evolve and hatch. At Lara Stone we believe in having as little impact on the environment as possible, and the use of Ahimsa silk was therefore an obvious addition to the Artisanal collection. For the occasion, Lara decided to create a little piece of art for you to wear every day, through all seasons. A perfect way of contributing...
It's a hot spring morning on the Sunshine Coast. Heat haze on the road, the strong smell of the bush in the air... Lara is wearing one of her own designs, silk, dyed with Eucalyptus, Acacia and splattered with Oak Gall Ink, a favourite old dress that has been lovingly mended. Perfect for a day of experimental dyeing. Eucalyptus sideroxylon, also known as "Mugga" is the species that Lara is experimenting with today. Lara's father gathered the bark in the dry country, and gave her a bag of native Australian botany, a welcome gift for an enthusiastic natural dyer. Eucalyptus sideroxylon is one of the 700 species’ that form the Eucalyptus genus. It is native to the western slopes...