A problem and its solution... converting food waste into dyes for clothes

2024-01-14 2024-01-14T14:02:56Z

ArabiaWeather - Onion peels, avocado seeds, and even pomegranate peels may be food leftovers for many, but for Aida Tokhtayeva in Adelaide, these natural materials have become a source of dyes used in dyeing silk scarves, as Tokhtayeva tells the media.

"You never know what color you'll end up with. Onion peel, for example, can turn fabric bright yellow or even orange, pomegranate peels give a golden yellow color, and red cabbage creates a range of colors from purple to indigo."

Tokhtayeva participates in the maker movement that promotes conscious consumption and makes food waste an opportunity to create through social media and marketplaces.

Dyeing clothes using vegetable dyes is common among these manufacturers to produce clothes and accessories, while at the same time making use of food waste. In this context, Tokhtayeva says:

“It's a fairly simple process but it takes a long time and requires a lot of organic material.”

“Every time I go to the supermarket, I pick up piles of onion skins from the bottom of the bins.”

Turn a hobby into a small business

It turned out that dyeing and selling scarves wasn't just a hobby, it began as a way to get away from her exile in Australia and maintain a connection with her indigenous Kyrgyz culture. Today, Tokhtayeva runs Daughter of Nomads from her home, a one-woman shop selling silk scarves that she dyes herself using... Fruit and vegetable peels.

A silk scarf maker combining Kyrgyz tradition with sustainability in Australia

The skills and arts of traditional carpet-making stem from Ms. Tokhtayeva, 34 ,'s memory of being in Kyrgyzstan where she enjoyed watching her grandmother make traditional rugs and how to dye wool using natural materials such as nut shells and foods.

Felt is an integral part of Kyrgyz culture and arts, and is used by nomadic communities to make outer and inner covers for tents and clothing. However, traditional handicrafts that were passed down from generation to generation have been replaced by mass production and varying quality.

When she settled in Australia in 2021, Ms Tokhtayeva wanted to acquire a skill that would keep her connected to her roots, and began learning the art of hand-feeling wool through online tutorials.

Tokhtayeva was hooked on YouTube videos by Kyrgyz craftswoman Kamala Abdulkadyrova, where she discovered how to dye wool with natural materials like mulberries, and decided to make silk scarves with Kyrgyz motifs inspired by traditions, which were very popular in Kyrgyzstan.

Ms Tokhtayeva used vegetable peels to dye silk and found the method attractive and effective, and believes the sustainability of Kyrgyzstan's traditional weaving techniques is well received by Australians.

Form a creative alliance

Ms Tokhteva is a model of cultural outreach and creativity in Australia, drawing support from a strong network of migrant businesswomen. In Adelaide, a friend introduced her to a group of local designers and photographers, who are also migrants like her. This group includes Natalia Petrenko, a wedding photographer, and Ekaterina Shipova, the fashion photographer, and Katya Komarova, the handbag designer, are all from Russia.

Tokhteva took her business project forward thanks to the encouragement of Komarova, who praised her silk scarves and offered her the opportunity to cooperate. Petrenko and Shipova also supported her with product photography for her website and Instagram account.

Tokhteva reflects that she has found a supportive community of women in Australia, which has made her feel grateful and fortunate, and continues to expand her experiments in the art of plant dyes and design, with plans to collaborate with local fashion designers and explore retail opportunities for her creations. She is also looking forward to running workshops in silk dyeing to pass on her techniques. To those interested.