Eco printing is a technique popularized by India Flint of South Australia as a sustainable and fascinating way to transfer plant-based patterns onto textiles. First,the base material is covered with local plants and then tightly bundled together. After steaming and boiling for several hours, pigments from the plants permanently transfer onto the textile, producing gorgeous, unique prints and natural hues.
This technique is equal parts strict science and wondrous witchcraft. Precise pH and temperature must be maintained in order to better capture the details of the plants used, or else you may be left with no print at all. However, even with the most careful preparation and monitoring, you can never fully predict what the final result will be. Such uncertainty and variation can spring forth magical results that help one explore and appreciate the hidden beauty around us.