Julie Bender: The Eco Dyer

Julie arrived in Goulburn twenty years ago, following her partner Terry here from Canberra. Over the past nine months she has immersed herself in the science/art of natural fabric dyeing. Through experimentation and nurturing her own creative expression, she is breathing new life into recycled fabrics with her stunning designs.

Originally working in childcare, she moved into nursing. As part of her training she worked at Kenmore hospital and soon realised that mental health was the area she was drawn too. She now works at Goulburn Base Hospital within the mental health team, assessing patients coming through the Emergency Department who present with signs of mental health. It is, as you can imagine, an emotionally and mentally demanding job.

To help maintain her own mental health, Julie taps into her creativity. And she has good bloodlines to draw from, coming from a family of creatives. Her mother was a dressmaker. Her sister, a talented seamstress, has also worked in pottery, painting and other art forms. Two of Julie’s cousins, also creatives in their own right, introduced her to the eco-dyeing process. Her cousin Jenny has been particularly influential in encouraging Julie to practice her craft every day. Through this practice over the past nine months, Julie has been able to expand on the foundations taught to her, evolving her process and refining her creative output.

What is eco-dyeing? Put simply it is the use of natural materials, like leaves, flowers and vegetable skins, to dye fabric. The process also seems simple enough, involving placing the materials on the fabric, wrapping tightly, boiling/steaming and then unwrapping your creation. The complexity and nuances come in understanding what materials will bond best with different fabric types, what colours can be produced by different plants, how long to boil to get the right vibrancy, and how different materials will react with each other. Layer onto that the creative element of being able to visualise how the placement of pieces will result in an appealing design.

For some pieces, Julie also uses a technique called Indigo dyeing, which has been adapted from traditional American Indian practices. It involves using powdered dyes made from natural plants and flowers. Soaking fabric or materials in rust is another technique that produces its own unique colour effects. The amazing thing about these dyeing techniques is the intricate level of detail they can capture from the raw materials – like little nibble marks made by insects and the veins within a leaf.

No two pieces of fabric will be dyed the same, that is the beauty of a hand-crafted product.

Speaking with Julie about her craft, you immediately see how inquisitive her mind is about experimenting with different materials and fabrics. She has immersed herself in the dyeing process, and her pieces are exquisite. She has a naturally artistic eye for the arrangement of materials. Julie admits her passion in all her creative endeavours is colour, and I think this often drives her curiosity and experimentation – the quest for the perfect colour. 

The pieces that she creates invoke the Australian bush so intensely because they are a direct impression of the bush. Julie uses different types of gum leaves, wattle and casuarina, as well as roses, onion skins, turmeric and saffron. She sources her fabrics from op shops as much as possible, and a piece of silk is a rare and much-valued find as this fabric produces the most vibrant colours.

Her silk scarves would not look out of place in a high-end boutique. As she refines her process, she is also thinking about how she can turn her fabrics into functional pieces, like aprons, sunglass bags, skirts and more.

As the season changes from winter to spring, Julie looks forward to new materials becoming available and all the creative possibilities that opens up. The cold weather is one thing she isn’t fond of about Goulburn. But she does love the small-town atmosphere, and that everything is accessible. Julie appreciates being able to enjoy a good sized backyard and a healthy environment away from the city.

She loves taking family to Harvest and Grit cafes, and she and her cousins love to hunt for pre-loved treasures in the fantastic op shops in town. The Goulburn Regional Art Gallery is another favourite spot, where Julie can enjoy the different uses of colours and draw inspiration.

In a time when mindfulness and the slow movement are growing in popularity, Julie’s eco dyeing is a fantastic blend of tuning in to yourself, your environment and your creativity. There is immense satisfaction to be gained from unfurling a piece of naturally dyed fabric you have created yourself. Given her progress over the last few months, Julie is certainly a local artist to watch.

You can follow Julie on Instagram (@ecodyeddelights).
Some of her pieces can be found at Gallery on Track and Gehl Garden Centre.
Julie is open to opportunities for artistic collaboration and running eco-dyeing workshops