Pigment Artists
Ellie Irons- Invasive Pigments
Invasive Pigments is an ongoing project that uses plant pigments to explore the growth and migration of weeds. Irons uses these pigments to construct map like portraits, field guides, and diagrams. The maps depict each species origin and spread as they continue contact with human populations.
Creating pigments through plant species that are originally deemed alien or invasive allows for a more intimate dialog about how we approach and think of these plants. Irons explains in her video that only about ⅓ of her pigments are from plants that would be considered native.
Iron’s PDF of creating your own pigment contains several sections detailing how and where to harvest plants, the plant history, the paint making process, materials and equipment needed, a index of vocabulary and terminology used, a plant checklist of most commonly found and used plants, and lastly a color wheel. 
Natsai Audrey Chieza
Chieza is a designer concerned with the environmental impacts of the fashion industry, and its dependence on petroleum based products and methods of manufacturing. Chieza states in her TED Talk that the future will not be sustainably built with fossil fuels, instead it will be built with biology. Her talk addresses the very real concern of depleting resources, climate change, and environmental impacts. Cheiza saw potential in using biotechnology to rethink the way in which clothing pigments can be applied.
She notices Streptomyces coelicolor produced pigments in hues of blue and magenta and began harnessing this biological life force as a way to create a sustainable dying practice.
Chieza is the founder and director of Faber Futures, a biodesign research lab that helps develop technology, and methods of biofabrication for the global market.
Faber Futures Mission Statement:
“At Faber Futures, we believe that answers to some of the biggest challenges facing this planet can be found in nature. By learning from living systems and integrating design, biology and technology, our mission is to identify and initiate holistic pathways to sustainable material futures.”
https://www.natsaiaudrey.co.uk/
Cara Marie Piazza
Piazza is a natural dyer and textile designer based in New York City. All of her fabrics are sources ethically. In addition, all of her designs are customizable to the buyer.
She uses natural materials such as botanicals, food, minerals, and plant matter- resources that would typically be thrown out by other places that she scavenges for her pieces.
She treats her fabrics through alchemical dye sessions, ancient shibori techniques and bundle dyeing.
