“Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.”
Nature has inspired fashion for millennia. In addition to providing the fibers for various textiles, plants also play a prominent role in the embellishment of fabrics. Floral patterns on clothes appear consistently throughout history. Before synthetic dyes were developed, plants were commonly used to add color to cloth. While nonnatural dyes may be more prevalent today than their nature-based counterparts, people are again turning to plant-based dyes as an environmentally conscious choice.
Interested in learning more about plant-based dyes? Check out the Cornell Natural Dye Garden in the courtyard between the Human Ecology Building and Martha Van Rensselaer Hall!