Cabasa – growing natural textile dyes
Cabasa, a Tameside-based carnival arts organisation, is leading a textile revolution rooted in sustainability. With the support of the Foundational Economy Innovation Fund, Cabasa has launched a community-driven initiative to produce natural dyes, reducing reliance on harmful synthetic dyes and working towards fostering a circular economy in Greater Manchester.
“The carnival arts sector in the UK is a dynamic and culturally significant part of the creative industries,” says Cabasa’s Artistic Director, Emily Wood.
“Cabasa is a carnival arts organisation which brings all people together to create big, bold and beautiful outdoor events that capture the joy of being part of a community. But we also feel a responsibility to address the environmental impact of synthetic dyes we use in our work.
“At the bottom of our valley is the River Tame, which, following a recent study by The University of Manchester, had the worst level of microplastic pollution ever recorded anywhere in the world – so we’re acutely aware of the environmental impact that using synthetic products can have.”
The innovation: natural dyes, grown by the community
Cabasa’s solution? Engage the community to grow natural dye plants in their gardens and yards, transforming local supply chains into sustainable, circular systems.
By working with regional dye experts and volunteers, Cabasa has cultivated a variety of natural dye plants from seed and processed them into vibrant, eco-friendly dyes. The initiative has sparked widespread community interest.
“We’ve been staggered by the interest,” Emily says. “Passionate gardeners, textile enthusiasts and environmental advocates are all coming together to help cultivate indigo and other dye plants, bringing back ancient practices with a modern, sustainable twist.”
Cabasa’s network of volunteer growers has already produced dyes for groundbreaking Living Dress installations, which were viewed by over 5,000 people in Oldham town centre. Another installation later in 2024 is expected to reach an audience of 10,000.
This community-centred approach is just the beginning, Emily says: “We’re expanding in 2025 with an indigo farm in Mossley, where we’ll scale up production and continue developing sustainable dye practices.”
With the support of the Foundational Economy Innovation Fund, Cabasa is helping to transform their climate-kind textile practices and engaging the community in a sustainable grassroots revolution.
“This is a story about the community coming together to create something beautiful and sustainable,” says Emily. “It’s an approach that has ancient roots, and we’re thrilled that we can be a part of a movement of climate-kind practices in textiles, and help others who want to achieve the same.”
Watch this video to see how Cabasa is turning Tameside indigo and leading the way toward a greener future.
To learn more about how you can get involved, whether as a grower, supporter, or participant, visit www.cabasacarnivalarts.com.