Natural or Synthetic Dyes?: The Preservation of Indigenous Textile Dyeing Techniques


Book chapter


Luis Quijano, Matalie Howard
Fashion Businesses Cases: A Student Guide to Learning with Case Studies, chapter 5, Fairchild Books/Bloomsbury Publishing, New York, USA, 2020


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APA   Click to copy
Quijano, L., & Howard, M. (2020). Natural or Synthetic Dyes?: The Preservation of Indigenous Textile Dyeing Techniques. In Fashion Businesses Cases: A Student Guide to Learning with Case Studies. New York, USA: Fairchild Books/Bloomsbury Publishing. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781501362989.ch-006


Chicago/Turabian   Click to copy
Quijano, Luis, and Matalie Howard. “Natural or Synthetic Dyes?: The Preservation of Indigenous Textile Dyeing Techniques.” In Fashion Businesses Cases: A Student Guide to Learning with Case Studies. New York, USA: Fairchild Books/Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.


MLA   Click to copy
Quijano, Luis, and Matalie Howard. “Natural or Synthetic Dyes?: The Preservation of Indigenous Textile Dyeing Techniques.” Fashion Businesses Cases: A Student Guide to Learning with Case Studies, Fairchild Books/Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020, doi:10.5040/9781501362989.ch-006.


BibTeX   Click to copy

@inbook{luis2020a,
  title = {Natural or Synthetic Dyes?: The Preservation of Indigenous Textile Dyeing Techniques},
  year = {2020},
  address = {New York, USA},
  chapter = {5},
  publisher = {Fairchild Books/Bloomsbury Publishing},
  doi = {10.5040/9781501362989.ch-006},
  author = {Quijano, Luis and Howard, Matalie},
  booktitle = {Fashion Businesses Cases: A Student Guide to Learning with Case Studies}
}

Abstract

As environmental regulations in developed countries become more strictly defined, there is an increasing need for sustainable measures for textile dyeing. In Teotitlan del Valle, Mexico, the textile dyeing techniques of indigenous cultures, using natural dyes, stretch back more than 1,000 years. However, due to a rise in urbanization prompting young adults to move from small rural towns to big cities, these techniques are facing extinction. Thus, the knowledge passed down from generation to generation of weavers and artisans is subsequently lost. To meet the needs of fast fashion, Teotitlan del Valle became increasingly receptive to using synthetic dyes. However, realizing the environmental hazards that emerge with synthetic dyes, some of its artisans have returned to the usage of natural dyes, to restore historical traditions and in response to concerns regarding the environmental and health risks of synthetic dyes. In this case study, students will distinguish the differences between natural and synthetic dyes, recognize the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and determine the best choices to meet the community’s needs. Finally, this case study will promote dialogue and problem-solving methods that can encourage the preservation of the textile dyeing techniques of indigenous cultures.



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