Dirt Petal is a natural pigment project developed and fully operated by me, Jovana. I have a background in visual art with a BFA in Fiber and Materials. I have experience with all kinds of dye techniques, but have chosen natural dye as a path that is most kind to the Earth.
My practice is a culmination of my experiences as a rural farm kid (hands in the Earth) + trash-picking art student (waste-led design) + anti-fashion fashion fan (loving expression, questioning the industry/dominant culture).
My hope is that fashion can function as activism. Imagining worlds through embodiment practices. Investigating optimistic material futures and supporting eco-literacy. Slowing down, connecting to source. Weaving interspecies kinship via careful sourcing and land stewardship.
I work out of my home studio in Harrisburg, PA on Susquehannock land. With immense gratitude, I acknowledge the traditions of Indigenous people and ancestors that have developed and protected this work for centuries.
Why natural dye?
Firstly, let’s talk about what Synthetic dyes are… Synthetic dyes are derived from petroleum. The clothing industry uses 70 million tons of oil each year to make synthetic dyes and fibers. Converting oil into dye creates hundreds of toxic chemicals and pollution. In general, these dyes are not biodegradable, creating a huge problem for our planet.
Natural dyes offer a safe and regenerative alternative. They are derived from plants (which remove excess carbon from the air), minerals, fungi, and insects. They grow in abundance and make use of waste. Dye water can safely be added to your garden, weeds and kitchen compost can be transformed into pigment, and the garments are still fully bio-degradable.
The colors themselves are stunning and naturally harmonious. Because of the structure of the dye molecules, color bounces around more, appears alive and luminous. Compared to synthetics, it’s the difference between looking at real grass and looking at astro-turf.
Natural dye is also full of history and meaning. Keeping these traditions alive is a form of cultural resistance to toxic industry norms fueled by Capitalism. It’s a slow practice that considers the health of our planet, people, and all species. It’s a portal into human history, before coal tar dyes dominated the color landscape. A restorative practice that reconnects us to the land.