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2. Mordants. Creating affinity

This tutorial explores one of the most essential — and often misunderstood — foundations of natural dyeing: how to create lasting bonds between dye and fiber using mordants and tannins.

Michel Garcia combines chemistry with centuries-old wisdom, drawing on traditions from India, Egypt, and medieval Europe to show how different fibers (wool, silk, and cellulose) respond to various treatments. Through clear demonstrations and insightful explanations, you'll learn to build color that is not only beautiful, but stable and enduring.

🕒 Approx. 3 hours of video
📄 Includes a 25-page illustrated handout with recipes and diagrams
🎙️ Narrated in English, with subtitles in French, Italian, Spanish, and German

to the tutorial

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Classification of fibers

If we want sustainable and beautiful results, we need to understand our fibers

Aluminum and earth crust

What elements and what compounds can we use in order to stay eco-friendly?

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Lecture: Chemistry of mordanting process

There are two basic strategies. Eastern strategy is respecting affinity, and Western (european) strategy is creating affinity.

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Lecture: home-made Aluminum acetate

Michel explains the chemistry of the very important process: how do we prepare Al acetate for mordanting.

Demo: 3 ways to prepare Al acetate

Michel shows 3 method of preparation of this best mordant for cellulose fibers (and eventually for silk).

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Preparation of iron acetate. Combination of aluminum and iron mordanting.

This demo is important for all dyers, but it is crucial for ecoprinters.

Classifications of tannins

We would need tannin for many purposes, let's understand the chemistry of tannins...

Double mordanting with aluminum and tannin

Demonstration and recipes

One-bath process

This technique is almost magical, although it is based on scientific approach. It suits not for every fiber and not for every dye.

Traditonal mud dyeing

Michel explains the techniques of bogolan, chinese and Shipibo mud dyeing...

European techniques of calico printing, role of mordants

Michel ecplains the basics of monochromatic and polychromatic techniques

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Conclusions

summary for mordanting process

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