It’s no secret that Peppermint’s favourite colour is green. Looking at these vibrant colours, however, we are tempted to broaden our palette! The earthy tones and vibrant hues produced by natural dyes owe to their extraction from leaves, plants, fruits and minerals using processes that are easier on the environment than the harsh chemicals and industrial techniques used in the manufacture of most textiles. If you want to learn more about natural dyes or even try your hand at using them, Beautiful Silks’ Natural Dye Symposium is an ideal place to start. Scheduled for June/July in Melbourne, Natural Colours in the City offers workshops in weaving, dying and knitting plus lectures by leaders in the natural dyes field like India Flint, Donna Walariki and David Higgins. Tickets are limited and selling fast, so visit their website for more information.