Botanical Inks + Ob_Wear

A capsule range of seven unique Oak and Chestnut hand painted shirts.
The Autumnal fruits of a truly love-driven project, two years in the making.

Natural pigments. Hand painted. Khadi cotton.

Available for purchase 25.09.21.

I hope that by inviting Oak and Chestnut into our garments and wearing them close to our skin and through our lives, that we may feel a sense of gentle, yet strongly rooted and stable, holding, to carry us through our days.

Providing the empowered strength we need to rise above challenges, stronger and wiser.

As I walk through the woods at this time of year, I am present to the strong aroma of the trees which seems more heightened than ever. I‘ve come to understand that the trees emit a sweet bio-chemical fragrance, which lulls creatures & animals back into the to shelter of their of roots and bows.

A well seasoned forager once told me that in these isles our forager-gather ancestors would have been following trails of blackberries from the coast upstream, feasting on raw fish and caviar as they approached the warmth and safety of the woods, to take Winter in. With access to all the foods- the root and wild meats, shelter and energy for the cold season ahead.

Testing Windfall Leaf Inks On Fabric Scraps

I was reminded of this vision as I brewed those large vats of windfall foliage. The aromatic tree language was thick in the air, moistening every moment with a lulling, comforting, earthy, good-feeling atmosphere.

Like a mist that enveloped the space with a trance-inducing euphoria that is not of the higher realms of the mind and vision, but a deeper, more grounded and embodied presence, drawing down to the lower cauldrons of my body - the inner spaces of heart and womb.

Rich, earthy, fertile notes of nutrient dense humus, felt within the cells of my body and through that scent filling the room.

Every plant has a different character of fragrance and offers a unique somatic experience, if you allow yourself to become sensitive enough to welcome them in.

As I sit and recall those moments now, the comfort I felt at being in that space. I’m reminded of how it might feel to be in the presence of a strong and deeply rooted person - perhaps a father or grandfather. That unconscious feeling of safety and protection that provides the space to drop, to let go and be simply held in his confident, grounded masculine strength.

And that is how I get to feel when I walk through the park and the big, old trees that have been standing there for 100 or 200 years.

There's something in that grounded presence of the ancient oaks and chestnut trees. Such big and strong, wisened elders.

When I feel lacking in inner strength, I know I can can go & be in the company of tall ancient Oaks and Chestnuts, and part of me is able to rebalance again.

As a natural dyer, my practise is in drawing these herbal characteristics into textiles, imbuing our garments and fabrics with the herbal support we wish for.

I heard a story once that in olden days, before the witch trials, when our communities were populated with women (and some men) who held the knowledge of the plants, were able to speak with them and work with them to help others. The herbalists, healers, midwives, natural dyers.. They would make their herbal brews and add their undergarments to soak in their medicinal essences. To then be worn next to the most sensitive parts of the skin.

It’s good to note that the skin is the largest organ of the body. Its a semipermeable membrane ie porous and absorbs that which it touches.

Our feet swell with water when we enter the sea or river, helping us to navigate our way over rocks more easefully. When we sweat we absorb even more of that which our skin touches.

In fact, the reality is that there is no such thing as a 100% solid object in the world..everything vibrates, sheds, absorbs and interacts with the next thing, constantly reverberating and moving, changing and growing. Including rocks and crystals, trees, fungi, animals, water, clouds..All constantly changing and interacting in an endless cycle.

So, might point comes back to, that we would benefit from being conscious and intentional about what we choose to place next to our skin. And that we can be very intentional about it, and choose to imbue ourselves with the herbal essences of the plants which can support us the most at different times.

We are always changing, and our moods, health, situations and challenges. Its a beautiful practice to know which plant allies can offer support to our different states of being.

And this is why we could all benefit from getting to know the plants around us, and how our ancestors knew them and invited them into their homes and lives.