Bring Indigo into the classroom!
This hands-on program introduces students to the world’s oldest natural dye through art, history, and sustainability. Students learn about indigo’s African origins, its role in U.S. history, and modern textile environmental issues - then dye their own fabric using a rare fermentation vat.
A Living Dye Lab for Schools
Base Classroom Program - $750
One classroom (up to ~25 students)
Indigo fermentation vat
Fabric for each student
Instruction, materials, and facilitation
Additional Classroom (Same Day): $500
Travel Outside Cleveland: Quoted as needed
Elementary School (Grades K - 5)
Focus: Color, transformation, and care for materials
Introduction to indigo as a plant-based dye
Simple explanation of fermentation as a “living process”
Hands-on dyeing and observation of color change
Conversations about clothing, where it comes from, and reuse
Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)
Focus: History, process, and environmental awareness
Indigo’s global history and African origins
Age-appropriate discussion of slavery and labor
Introduction to sustainability and fast fashion
Science of fermentation and oxidation
High School (Grades 9–12)
Focus: Systems thinking and ethical design
Indigo and the transatlantic slave trade
Synthetic dyes, pollution, and micro-plastics
Circular fashion and sustainable alternatives
Career pathways in art, design, and textile innovation