\n\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_3994.jpg\")
\n\t
\n\t\tSaudi textile artist Hana Al-Milli discovered a passion for natural dyeing because it became a way to express heritage and history. (Instagram) <\/p>\n
\n\tRIYADH: Long before synthetic dyes and mass production became commonplace, handicrafts were coveted art forms.<\/p>\n
\n\tAs Saudi Arabia celebrates 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts, the work of artisans throughout history is in the limelight once again.<\/p>\n
\n\tArtists and artisans across the Kingdom are reviving traditional crafts to reinvent contemporary artforms, including a resurgence in natural dyeing techniques.<\/p>\n
\n\tSaudi Arabia artist Hana Al-Milli told Arab News: \u201cI believe there is a renewed appreciation and effort to value these practices within the cultural scene.<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\tSaudi textile artist Hana Al-Milli discovered a passion for natural dyeing because it became a way to express heritage and history. (Instagram)
<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cOn one hand, there is a focus on preserving traditional methods in their original form. On the other (hand), contemporary artists, including myself, are reinterpreting these techniques in ways that make them relevant today.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThis dual approach ensures that the craft is both honored and given new life in modern contexts.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cIn addition, many cultural initiatives now actively promote the teaching and learning of traditional crafts, instilling pride in Saudis and encouraging us to preserve and celebrate our heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAl-Milli graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textiles and Fiber Arts, where much of her experimentation with materials began, including natural dyes.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI discovered a passion for natural dyeing because it became a way to express heritage and history \u2014 two vital themes in my artistic process.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cIt became an essential part of my work when I began researching natural dyes in the Arab world and uncovering their many connections to cultural practices.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThrough this research, I found both a conceptual and personal resonance. The process itself also requires reflection and patience, which mirrors the rhythm of my practice and gives depth to the multiple layers in my work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tHer dyeing process begins with selecting both the fabric and the dye source, noting that natural dyes imprint differently on various natural fibers.<\/p>\n
\n\tThere are many techniques; some are more spontaneous, such as bundle dyeing, and others more structured, like the traditional Japanese resist-dye method shibori, as well as full immersion.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThere isn\u2019t a single right way to dye; it depends on the desired outcome and the intended use of the textile. Personally, I often use bundle dyeing because it produces a raw and organic quality,\u201d Al-Milli said.<\/p>\n
\n\tFor her, this knowledge about natural dyeing processes includes the responsibility to share these techniques with young, emerging artists.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI see my practice not only as a personal artistic expression but also as a way to preserve tradition.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cBy integrating natural dyes into my work, teaching others, and framing my themes around heritage, I contribute to keeping these techniques alive and evolving in contemporary contexts,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile her practice also incorporates techniques such as silk-screen printing, photographic imaging on textiles, and embroidery, natural dyeing holds a special place in her heart.<\/p>\n
\n\tArtists like Al-Milli prefer it because of its eco-friendly and sustainable nature, while being tied to heritage. The Kingdom is incentivizing other artists to experiment with the technique.<\/p>\n
\n\tSaudi Arabia artist Zainab Abo Hussain, known for her miniature paintings, has taken on natural dyeing in her most recent artwork produced during Misk Art Institute\u2019s screen-printing residency.<\/p>\n
\n\tShe produced a fabric carpet dyed with henna and saffron, and screen-printed using pigments extracted from pomegranate seeds and peels, as well as saffron, indigo, and other natural materials.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_3988.jpg\")
\n\t
\n\t\tSaudi artist Zainab Abo Hussain, known for her miniature painting works, has taken on natural dyeing in her most recent artwork produced during Misk Art Institute\u2019s screenprinting residency. (Instagram)
<\/p>\n
\n\tThe decorative style is inspired by ancient Arabic manuscripts and miniatures, presented in a contemporary form.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe Kingdom is making sure that it\u2019s coming back, and you can see in AlUla (for example), they have women doing the weaving as well, the baskets and Sadu,\u201d said Suhailah Abdelaziz, a Moroccan-American textile-based artist who was raised in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
\n\tAlUla\u2019s Madrasat Addeera has put on workshops on the traditional art of textile dyeing, administered by Turquoise Mountain Arabia, where attendees learn to create natural dye from organic ingredients, such as pomegranate and turmeric, found in AlUla\u2019s lush oasis.<\/p>\n
\n\tOther workshops have also been put on by the National Museum and the Diriyah Biennale Foundation as a part of their programming.<\/p>\n
\n\tSadu weaving is an iconic Saudi handicraft, traditionally done by women in the southern regions of the country, where wool or camel hair is dyed naturally and woven into geometric patterns.<\/p>\n
\n\tAnother is the Al-Qatt Al-Asiri architectural style, another tradition originating from the southern regions, where women have long used natural pigments to create brightly colored, geometric wall paintings.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cFor Sadu weaving, before they start weaving, they\u2019ll dye the yarn either with Cochineal, which is essentially like a bug. You crush the bug, and then you can extract the dye, as well as Madder and Kermes,\u201d Abdelaziz explained.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cMostly, they use synthetic dyes now, due to globalization, but back then, they used to use saffron and henna to create these geometric patterns.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAnd historically, they would use leaves, roots, petals, or any other natural resources. But mostly all the synthetic dyes right now are imported from India, Kuwait, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile synthetic dyes are considerably easier to use than organic ones, Abdelaziz prefers the experimental method that resembles adding a new voice and pushing it forward with each piece of fabric.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_1476.png\")
\n\t
\n\t\tSuhailah Abdelaziz, a Moroccan American textile-based artist who was raised in Saudi Arabia, uses natural ingredients to create dyes. (Supplied)
<\/p>\n
\n\tAbdelaziz is the founder of Third Culture Child, a clothing concept brand inspired by her multicultural background, aimed at bringing playfulness and a wondrous spirit into clothing.<\/p>\n
\n\tShe uses various techniques including Batik, Indian block printing, and Japanese Shibori, that are reinterpreted through her own lens to make abayas.<\/p>\n
\n\tBy using natural dyes, like the rare ancient indigo pigment, madder root, henna, and logwood extract, her work hopes to keep the connection between the past and the present intact, while inspiring others to do the same.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI like seeing what I can mix and what comes up. Each piece is slowly made and the dying process \u2014 it\u2019s very rigorous, but the clothing carries the imprint of this process.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cTextiles hold the memory transformation, so it goes beyond clothing,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt does demand you to remain patient and respect the material, respect the fabric. And it also adds depth and meaning to the finished piece.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RIYADH: Long before synthetic dyes and mass production became commonplace, handicrafts were coveted art forms.
As…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":40602,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[111,139,69,147,392],"class_list":["post-40601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-science","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40601\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}