Playing with the Blues: Indigo Dye & Shibori Workshop

Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 1-3PM | GBC Gallery | Ages 18+
$100/Member | $110/Non Member

Join Indigo expert, Laura Berkowitz Gilbert, to discover the deep-rooted history and hands-on magic of indigo in this two-hour immersive workshop designed for plant lovers, fiber enthusiasts, and anyone curious about natural dye traditions. Led by artist Laura Berkowitz Gilbert of Tocco Studio, this workshop blends botanical insight with centuries-old craft.

We’ll begin with a journey through the global story of indigo, tracing its cultivation across continents and cultures. Laura will share stories from her time in Tokushima, Japan—home to a rich indigo heritage—where she met with seventh-generation indigo farmers, dyers, and designers. The workshop will explore of how indigo continues to thrive as both a cultural and botanical legacy.

Next, we’ll dive into the science of dyeing with plant-based indigo: what makes it different from other natural dyes, how the vat is prepared and maintained, and the fascinating chemistry behind the transformation from green to blue as your textile oxidizes.

In the second half of the workshop, you’ll get hands-on with shibori, the traditional Japanese resist-dye technique. Laura will demonstrate a variety of fold, bind, and clamp methods before guiding you through dipping your own organic cotton bandana into a living organic indigo vat. You’ll build rich, layered color and reveal stunning patterns—each piece a one-of-a-kind result of your creative process.

You’ll leave with:
✔ A beautifully dyed 100% organic cotton bandana
✔ Knowledge of indigo history, chemistry, and shibori techniques
✔ Handouts with step-by-step instructions, care tips, and resources for continuing your natural dye journey at home

All materials and tools are included in the workshop fee. No prior experience necessary—just a love for plants, color, and creativity.

Tocco Studio creates naturally dyed fiber art and home goods that bring the quiet beauty of the natural world into your home — artfully, sustainably, and with intention. Laura Berkowitz Gilbert is the artist behind Tocco Studio. Her work begins in the dye pot — using materials like organic indigo, cochineal, and even avocado pits to coax rich, complex color from nature. These pigments are layered onto fiber speaking not only to aesthetics, but to process, place, and care.