Chelsea Flower Show Recap: Meet Milo from Sparsholt College Talking "Washday Hues" and Natural Dyes.
The exhibit explored the journey of natural fabric dyes extracted from plants. It featured an extra large washing machine, a dyeing sink, and a washing line of fabrics dyed by students.
Milo, a student at Sparsholt College, explains why the garden showcases the relationship between fabrics and plants, demonstrating the wide range of beautiful colours that can be achieved when using natural plant-based dyes. Madder rose coloured y-fronts anyone!
The design leads visitors through the stages from plant to finished clothing, taking colour from plant to pigment, flower to fabric, and garden to garment. The giant washing machine signifies the first step of the dyeing process and the garden itself feature many of the plants which can be used to produce dyes.