In Pursuit of Color - by Lauren MacDonald (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An engrossing look at the rich and turbulent history of coloring cloth

Over the centuries our manipulation of the natural world has resulted in an explosion of synthetic dye production and application globally. To gain insight into the history of how folk practices have been lost and technical processes found, anthropologist and textile artist Lauren MacDonald explores a practice that is both ancient and wholly modern: coloring cloth. The pursuit of color has long spurred economic and social contest, and through this deeply researched volume we explore the stories that the materials used to dye cloth tell us about our complex relationship to nature, our troubling ideas about progress and our understanding of power and labor.
In Pursuit of Color brings together historic techniques, archive photography, specimens and present-day events to tell the histories of some of the world's most important dyestuffs. A 32-page supplement accompanies the volume, detailing practical applications and the chemistry behind dyeing processes. The book comes in three different covers (red, yellow and blue) which are shipped randomly as a further happy surprise.
Lauren MacDonald (born 1990) is a Canadian-born multidisciplinary artist, designer and founder of the London, UK textiles studio Working Cloth. She has a background in material culture, textile science and fashion.

Review Quotes

In Pursuit of Color merits accolades as an excellent, informative book that's both scholarly and accessible, and as a uniquely constructed creative achievement.--Paul D'Agostino "Art Spiel"

Well-researched and comprehensive, this vibrant volume won't just add a pop of color to your shelves -- it'll teach you about it, too.-- "Hyperallergic"

In Pursuit of Color gracefully weaves together archaeological findings, scientific oddities, colonial injustices, and pressing current events, offering new insights into the textiles we live with and new reasons to appreciate what we already have.--Lauren Moya Ford "Hyperallergic"

Gathering ingredients for textile dyes can be brutal, lethal work, documented by the designer and researcher Lauren MacDonald in "In Pursuit of Color." She analyzes practices dating from thousands of years for pulverizing flora, fauna, fungi, fossils and fuels into potions for saturated hues.--Eve Kahn "The New York Times: Design"