Using leaves, fruits, and roots readily available in nature, artisan Lê Võ Sơn Quân has applied the Natural/Eco-Printing technique to make Vietnamese silk not only diverse in color but also transformed into unique works of art.
Understanding Eco-Printing and its renaissance in Vietnam
Eco-Printing is a natural dyeing and printing technique with a history spanning thousands of years, using flowers, leaves, bark, and fruit peels to create unique patterns. However, for decades, this technique was gradually overshadowed by industrial dyeing, which uses chemical substances to dominate the textile market due primarily to convenience, low cost, and ease of mass production.
Le Vo Son Quan, with a background in chemistry and a love for handicrafts, recognized that naturally dyed silk is beneficial for user health, environmentally friendly, and possesses unique colors. He spent years traveling across traditional Vietnamese craft villages, self-studying, researching, and finally decided to revive this technique using Vietnamese silk as the primary material.
The scientific art of natural dyeing silk
Vietnam possesses abundant and diverse plant resources. Therefore, Le Vo Son Quan easily sourced a variety of coloring materials from plants and fruits such as turmeric, grape, mangosteen, mulberry, indigo, and củ nâu (madder root)… He opts to dye the silk threads or dye the fabric after it’s been woven.
Each dye batch is meticulously prepared: raw materials are cleaned, water pH is balanced, and mordants (color fixatives) are carefully selected to be safe for users.
Crucially, by changing just one minor condition, the same type of leaf or bark can yield dramatically different color ranges—sometimes emerald green, sometimes honey yellow, sometimes the deep, earthy tones of soil—depending on the weather, season, and soil quality of the growing region. This inherent variability makes every piece of silk at Uniquegifts possess vibrant, refined color gradients, transforming each scarf into a one-of-a-kind work of art.
Beyond research, Mr. Quan organizes workshops, sharing the technique and inspiring young people who love handicrafts. For him, natural dyeing is not just a manual job; it is a way to connect people with nature and preserve sustainable values for the future.
Building upon this material foundation, Uniquegifts’ artists unleash their creativity to produce distinct patterns, making each scarf a unique piece of art. Choosing a naturally colored silk scarf at Uniquegifts means choosing sophistication, luxury, and sustainability—a meaningful gift for loved ones, or a distinctive style accent for oneself.
For further reading: Chang Son fan village
For further reading: Uniquegifts: The journey of preserving Vietnamese identity through unique handmade gifts
Author: Anh Khuê
