DuniaMotif
Niko Neko Matcha
Niko Neko Matcha, renowned for its high-quality matcha powder, has partnered with DuniaMotif for a commissioned project to create an artistic installation for their café. The installation, conceptualized by Spacemen Studio, involves fabric drapes hanging from the ceiling, designed to enhance the café's ambiance. DuniaMotif, with its expertise in natural dyeing, is responsible for dyeing the fabrics using organic, sustainable methods, ensuring a unique and eco-friendly touch. This collaboration brings together rich flavors, vibrant colors, and sustainable artistry to create a visually captivating environment for Niko Neko's customers.
Fabric Dyer: DuniaMotif
Architect/Concept: Spacemen Studio
Location: KL Metropolis, Menara The MET,
Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Art of Matcha Green: A Journey Through Natural Dyeing
As you stand beneath the silk, watching it flow and swirl smoothly with the wind, you witness the softness of the fabric in motion. Its surface whispers the story of a slow, meticulous transformation. Each fold carries a history of nature’s alchemy—an organic blend of deep indigo and the golden hues of Tegeran wood, culminating in a rich, earthy matcha green.
This journey began with 450 meters of silk, a blank canvas ready to absorb the hues of nature. The process started with scouring—rinsing the fabric in water and neutral soap to remove impurities, allowing the fibers to fully embrace the dye.
The Technique and Challenges
Maintaining the Indigo Vat
Maintaining an indigo vat is a delicate task, requiring patience and precision. Only one person tends to the vat at a time to prevent disruptions. Daily maintenance is essential, performed each night after dipping to ensure the vat remains active and balanced. The sugarcane molasses fermentation sustains the vat, keeping the dyeing process consistent.
Indigo Absorption on Silk
Silk, though delicate, absorbs indigo remarkably well due to its protein-based fibers, which bind to the dye effortlessly. When dipped into the indigo vat, the fabric moves gracefully, absorbing the deep blue hue with ease. However, the tricky part comes during the drying process. While silk is expensive and difficult to source in a fully organic form, it has the advantage of drying extremely fast—within just 10 minutes in the tropical climate.
Tegeran Wood Stability and Dyeing Process
Tegeran wood (Cudrania javanensis) proves to be a highly stable dye source, with pigments that hold up well against the indigo. To achieve the perfect matcha green, the fabric undergoes a strategic sequence: two dips in indigo followed by one dip in Tegeran. However, the results depend on the quality of the vat. For this project, a total of 5kg of Tegeran wood was used, boiled and reboiled to extract the maximum pigment. One of the advantages of Tegeran is its reusability—the wood can be repurposed multiple times, although its effectiveness diminishes with each cycle, depending on usage.
Alternative Dye Sources
An interesting observation is that onion skin dye could potentially replace Tegeran wood. Both yield a rich yellow pigment, but their chemical compositions differ. Onion skin relies on tannins, while Tegeran wood provides a direct dye source. Understanding these distinctions helps refine and expand natural dye techniques.
Beyond beauty, this process champions sustainability. With a mindful approach, the entire dyeing journey used less than 10 liters of water, significantly reducing environmental impact and carbon emissions. Every piece is a testament to the harmony between craftsmanship and ecological consciousness.
As you watch the fabric dance in the air, you are not just witnessing silk—you are seeing the essence of nature, tradition, and artistry woven into every thread. This is more than a textile; it is a story dyed with care, respect, and a deep love for the natural world.