The 15th edition of Art Dubai which displayed findings of its advanced palm fiber research and palm textile prototype, paving the way for the sustainable development of the textile and fashion industries, concluded on Sunday.
The three-day edition saw Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, an affiliate of the UAE-based NAMA Women Advancement (NAMA) explore UAE’s relationship with the date palm and promote innovations in heritage crafts.
Irthi turned the spotlight on how recent research in date palm fiber extractions funded by the entity is creating new sustainable choices for not only the crafts sector but also the fashion industry.
Also, it discussed how such local, environment-friendly materials could pave the way for the creation of a circular economy centered on palm waste.
Another key exhibit marking Irthi’s participation at Art Dubai 2022 is a research-led publication, ‘Crafting Natural Dyes’.
It is the outcome of a collaborative venture with the Alchemy of Dyeing and which documents natural and sustainable recipes for dyeing palm leaves.
The publication includes recipes formulated from the year-long research process that engaged artisans and experts from the region to create recipes based on Irthi’s primary research.
The recipes primarily focus on the dyes used to color date palm fronds.
