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 modern:
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.
