In Pursuit of Color: From Fungi to Fossil Fuels: Uncovering the Origins of the World's Most Famous Dyes

by Lauren MacDonald, Ananda Pellerin (Editor)

An engrossing look at the rich and turbulent history of coloring cloth Over the centuries our manipulation of the natural world has resulted in an explosion of synthetic dye production and application globally. To gain insight into the history of how folk practices have been lost and technical processes found, anthropologist and textile artist Lauren MacDonald explores a practice that is both ancient and wholly coloring cloth. The pursuit of color has long spurred economic and social contest, and through this deeply researched volume we explore the stories that the materials used to dye cloth tell us about our complex relationship to nature, our troubling ideas about progress and our understanding of power and labor.
In Pursuit of Color brings together historic techniques, archive photography, specimens and present-day events to tell the histories of some of the world’s most important dyestuffs. A 32-page supplement accompanies the volume, detailing practical applications and the chemistry behind dyeing processes. The book comes in three different covers (red, yellow and blue) which are shipped randomly as a further happy surprise.
Lauren MacDonald (born 1990) is a Canadian-born multidisciplinary artist, designer and founder of the London, UK textiles studio Working Cloth. She has a background in material culture, textile science and fashion.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published July 4, 2023

Reviews

[victoria marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely AMAZING! will write more soon.

[Dinesh Cherupalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read on how textiles have been dyed for centuries prior to the advent of industrial chemicals.

Most people take for granted how their clothes are a certain color. Prior to 1920's, natural dyes and the colors that they create had major implications politically and culturally. It also was a vehicle by which colonialism was propagated in the 19th century.

The book delves briefly into how dyes color clothes. The majority of the content focuses on specific plants, fungi, and animals that were used to create dyes as well as its cultural impact.

[James Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an artist interested in the production of color this was a really educational book. I was aware of some of the history around dye production, but this gave a much more thorough and digestible account of how dyes have been sourced and the economies built around fabric dying. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the history of garment production or history of certain crafts/trades. This also gives some basic information on the process of dying and can be a starting source for dying your own fabrics. It’s a beautiful and well written book. I’m so glad I bought it.