Colours of the City | Creative Summer Potsdamer Platz

Dye your new favorite piece with plants from Berlin

In this two-day workshop, you’ll explore the city’s world of colors. Using leaves, flowers, and berries from urban spaces, you’ll dye a white garment or textile made of cotton or linen and turn it into a new favorite piece.

The focus is on plants that are often overlooked in urban spaces—wild vegetation, so-called weeds, or invasive species. Many light-colored natural textiles remain similarly overlooked, perhaps because they have stains or are difficult to pass on in the secondhand market. In this workshop, both materials will be given new appreciation: from what’s already there, vibrant colors, patterns, and unique one-of-a-kind pieces will emerge.

You’ll learn the basics of natural dyeing, work at the intersection of chemistry and craftsmanship, and gain insight into the technique of soy mordanting.

Workshop Dates

Two-day workshop
Sun & Mon, Aug. 2 & 3

Always from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

What to expect

• Getting to know urban plants and their dyes
• An introduction to plant-based dyeing using leaves, flowers, and berries
• Dyeing a white garment or textile made of cotton or linen
• Insight into soy mordant, color reactions, and simple dyeing techniques
• Creating vibrant colors and patterns
• Inspiration from urban vegetation, existing textiles, and sustainable material use

You’ll take home

• your favorite plant-dyed cotton or linen piece
• practical knowledge of natural dyeing
• new ideas for working with urban plants and existing textiles

Good to know

• The workshop will be held on two dates
• Suitable for participants aged 16 and older
• No prior experience required
• Materials and basic supplies will be provided
• Please bring a white or light-colored garment or piece of fabric made of cotton or linen. Natural fabrics that have stains or are no longer worn or used are ideal
• Please wear clothing that can get stained
• The workshop will take place with a minimum of 6 participants.

A workshop byOrt-schafft-Material.Ort-schafft-Material works at the intersection of art, design, and sustainability, developing educational formats in which waste materials and the immediate urban landscape become resources for creative work.

Discover more events at Creative Summer at Potsdamer Platz: workshops, art and craft markets, exhibitions, family activities, and much more. You can find all information about the full programhere.

Please note: Cancellations are only possible up to 10 days before the event begins. After that, due to binding planning and space allocation, we unfortunately cannot offer any refunds.

In the event of a cancellation by a participant, the ticket price will be refunded in accordance with our refund policy; Eventbrite fees are generally non-refundable. In the event of a cancellation or postponement by the organizer, the full purchase amount will be refunded.