Colour4CRAFTS research project, in partnership with the University of Leeds, will host a hybrid public seminar, “The Future of BioColourants” on 11 May 2026.
The event will take place Clothworkers’ Court Speakman Lecture Theatre (G.89), University of Leeds (LS2 9JT) on 11 May 2026 from 13:00 to 16:00 GMT.
The public seminar will feature presentations exploring the role and future of natural dyes and bio-based colourants within sustainable textile industries. Riikka Räisänen (Project Lead, University of Helsinki) will present the research results of the Colour4CRAFTS project and policy recommendations addressing the future of biocolourants in Europe. This will be followed by presentations from three guest speakers discussing the place of natural colourants within mainstream textile industries. Guest speakers include Karen Spurgin (Co-Founder, AO Textiles), Darryl Cassingham (CEO, Dr Leather Ltd), and Stephanie Dick (CEO, The Textile Institute). The event will conclude with the announcement of the winner of the International Student Design Competition organized by Colour4CRAFTS, in collaboration with The Textile Institute Sustainability Group. The competition celebrates emerging talent and future-focused approaches to sustainable colouration.
Following the seminar, there will be a celebration with a tea gathering in the newly refurbished Clothworkers Dye Garden Courtyard. Participants are also invited to the opening of the “Colour4CRAFTS: Colour for Tomorrow” exhibition. The exhibition opening will be held at Space@Design in the School of Design at the University of Leeds between 16:30 and 18:00 (GMT). The opening will feature an introductory speech by Riikka Räisänen. The exhibition will showcase the research and results of the Colour4CRAFTS project, along with the designs of both the winner and shortlisted competitors of the International Student Design Competition.
This seminar marks a key milestone for Colour4CRAFTS (Colour for Combining, Re‑engineering, Applying, Futuring, Transforming, Stretching) project, a three‑year research initiative funded by EU Horizon (No. 101094809), concluding in June 2026.
The Colour4CRAFTS project consists of multidisciplinary researchers from the University of Helsinki and the University of Lapland in Finland, the University of Tartu in Estonia, the Royal Institute of Cultural Heritage KIK-IRPA in Belgium, from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, and PILI in France. The project also highlights the multidisciplinary collaboration between scientists, artists, designers, and craftspeople, focusing on natural dyes and bio‑based colourants. Colour4CRAFTS aims to develop innovative and sustainable colouration practices for future green textile industries, drawing on traditional craft‑based knowledge from across Europe—particularly the North‑Eastern Baltic region—and combining this with cutting‑edge technologies in green chemistry, engineering, and design practice. The project directly supports the European Green Deal, contributing to sustainable materials, processes, and creative practices.
The seminar is open to all. To participate either in-person or online, be sure to register via this webpage:
