Painting with plants
- Lucia constantly tests new textile dyeing alchemies
- Her pieces are inspired by nature and an ecological mindset
- She collects leaves from around the world to use on her fabrics
Lucia Pascale produces unique fabrics with natural materials, eco-printing techniques and non-polluting dyeing processes from plants, roots and flowers. After a 30-year long career as a fashion designer, Lucia decided to set up her own atelier to work in harmony with nature. Each of her garments is natural, handmade and unique. "Even when a client asks me to create a kimono or scarf with specific colours or features, the piece will still be a surprise. Neither of us will know what the final result will look like," Lucia says. "I think of it as bringing a child into the world. The colour of their eyes will always be a surprise, no matter how well you know the ancestry," she explains.
INTERVIEW
I start with a natural white fabric from leftover factory stocks and old trousseaux. I use leaves that I collect from woods and parks, or dried leaves from friends around the world. I especially like those dried in books as souvenirs. I also use food waste, such as vegetable scraps and coffee.
I mainly have two approaches. I either print a few metres of fabric freely, guided by emotion, and use the fabric later. Or, I cut the garment pattern on the fabric first and then design the print accordingly.
It takes days because every step takes a long time to complete. Baking alone takes two hours, and the fabric must also cool overnight. That is why I work on several projects at the same time.
Eco-printing has grown popular, but when I began, it was still experimental. Exploration is vital – I am currently testing smarter firing methods, such as microwave firing for leather printing. I am also studying how sea water affects etching, fabric preparation and colour toning.
