50 Shades of Natural Dye on Wool

February 23 – March 2, 2027
7 Hotel Nights | 5 Teaching Days

A deep, structured exploration of historical dye recipes translated into a modern sustainable workflow.

This program builds directly on the extraordinary success of the 2025 and 2026 Antoine Janot workshop, where participants produced an unprecedented range of calibrated shades under real-world conditions. The clarity and repeatability of the system confirmed something essential: historical dye knowledge, when properly understood, is precise, scalable, and still relevant today.

For 2027, we refine and expand.

Our framework draws on the documented practices of 18th-century French master dyers (most notably Antoine Janot and Paul Gout) whose structured approach to mordanting, bath sequencing, and shade architecture defined the French haute dye tradition.

We will work with the classical “haute” dyes of the French system, including madder, cochineal, weld, and indigo. Materials historically prized not only for beauty, but for durability and technical excellence.

All dyes are selected with careful attention to:

• Lightfastness
• Washfastness
• Historical documentation
• Ecological responsibility

We will work with optimized quantities of dye and mordant, demonstrating how controlled extraction and intelligent bath management allow for depth of color without excess material use.

Alongside the classical palette, a small number of carefully chosen contemporary surprises will expand the chromatic field while remaining within historical and ecological logic.

Rather than isolated recipes, we operate within a coherent system:

• Structured mordant architectures
• Sequential overdyeing and calibrated shading
• Bath reuse and exhaustion tracking
• Controlled extraction and saturation modulation
• Repeatable color building from pale to full depth

Each participant will dye 50 calibrated skeins of wool (10 grams each), constructing a complete shade system from the palest tonal shift to rich saturation.
In total, you will work through approximately 500 grams of wool, building a personal chromatic archive grounded in documented historical practice and adapted to contemporary ecological standards.

By the end of the week, you will leave with:

– A complete 50-shade wool reference collection
– A documented and repeatable workflow
– A practical understanding of 18th-century French dye logic adapted to contemporary sustainable standards

This course is suited for practitioners who seek rigor, structure, and mastery, not surface experimentation alone.

Pricing:

Shared – 2,290 USD pp (you come with a participating partner or friend)
Single – 2,690 USD
Shared + non-participating partner – 2,950 USD

Right now, you only register with a non-refundable downpayment. Your final payments are due by November 2026, payment plans available.

What Is Included

• Hotel accommodation for the stated nights of each program
• Daily breakfast
• Lunch on teaching days
• All teaching hours
• Use of studio space during and after teaching hours
• Indigo vats and shared resist equipment (Shibori module)
• Guest instructor sessions
• Technical handouts and structured workflow documentation
• Opening night dinner 
• Closing night dinner

What Is Not Included

• International flights
• Airport transfers
• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Dinners (except opening and closing dinners for Courses 1 & 3)
• Personal excursions
• Materials and base fabrics (a detailed materials list will be provided in advance)

Tips (recommended 10$ pp per night for our wonderful and dedicated kitchen and cleaning staff who really make our stay a personal treat)

Group Size: a maximum of 15 participants per group
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Language: English/ Dutch / Hebrew
Location: Boutique Hotel Casa Angelitos in San Miguel de Allende

About Casa Angelitos

Our residency takes place at Boutique Hotel Casa Angelitos in San Miguel de Allende, a privately owned, character-filled property with unmistakable Mexican charm.

The rooms are individually styled, colorful, and slightly quirky in the best possible way, with textured walls, and handcrafted details.

The terrace where we work offers sweeping views across San Miguel, sunrise and sunset light over the hills becoming part of the rhythm of our days.

Casa Angelitos is run by a warm and attentive team, together with its dedicated owner, who cares deeply about creating a welcoming and personal atmosphere for our group.

Each morning and on teaching days at lunch, we are served fresh, farm-to-table organic meals, thoughtfully prepared juices, local produce, and seasonal dishes that nourish long studio days without weighing us down.

Accessibility 

It is so important to make my courses accessible to everyone, but Mexico just...isn't. If you have mobility issues please contact me before making any decisions and we will see together if this is a do-able fit for you.