Wild mushrooms and Finnsheep wool. A natural dye workshop in Vaasa, Finland
This workshop was planned as part of the ‘sustainable lifestyles’ STEA funded project with Cooperative3e.
On the day we were thrilled to welcome expert Ronja Kuokkanen from Outar to facilitate the group. Ronja is a nature professional & craft entrepreneur, plant dyer and lecturer. 💚 Outar manufactures plant-dyed gift and decoration products, using traditional methods.
We shone a light on two natural Finnish resources—mushrooms and Finn sheep wool—both of which can contribute to the circular economy.
By exploring these local materials, we aimed to show how sustainability could be woven into everyday life, from the clothes we wear to the practices we engage in.
We also dyed some wooden beads with plant extracts: madder and logwood.
We welcomed a diverse community, united by a shared connection to nature, celebrating cultural knowledge and empowering participants with tools to make sustainable choices that benefit both people and the planet. We hoped everyone who attended would leave feeling inspired, connected, and open to making small, positive changes in their everyday lives.
Finnish mushrooms
Finnish forests are abundant with wild mushrooms, and mushroom foraging is a beloved tradition in Finland! The more we learn about these fungi—how to identify, forage, and use them—the more connected we become to nature. We learned how the simple act of foraging can open our eyes to the beauty of the everyday, a mindfulness practice that benefits both health and well-being.
Mushroom dyeing uses a resource that is both natural and renewable. By learning to forage for mushrooms sustainably—taking only what is needed and ensuring minimal environmental impact—we use what nature provides without depleting it.
Natural dyes and vibrant colours
Mushrooms offer a fantastic alternative to synthetic dyes, which can be harmful to both the environment and human health. The natural dyeing process with mushrooms can yield a vibrant palette. These strong colours make mushroom dyeing an exciting option for anyone interested in eco-friendly fashion and textiles.
Waste reduction, closing the loop, and promoting biodiversity
Mushroom dyeing aligns with the goals of a circular economy, as it minimises waste. Unlike industrial dyeing processes that contribute to pollution, mushroom-dyed textiles can potentially biodegrade, returning nutrients to the soil and closing the loop in the product’s lifecycle. Moreover, engaging in practices like mushroom foraging and dyeing creates an appreciation for local ecosystems and promotes biodiversity—a key pillar in building a resilient, sustainable future.
Participants explored these ideas in the workshop, discovering how local, seasonally available resources could be incorporated into their projects.
The value of Finn sheep wool
A key focus of our workshop was showcasing the potential of wool from local Finn sheep, a highly valuable yet underutilised resource in Finland’s circular economy. As Esko Hjelt explained in an article for Lapuan Kankurit, "only around half of the wool produced in Finland is used, with a significant portion going to waste." This underutilisation is largely driven by the low market price of raw wool, which discourages farmers from the time-consuming work of sorting and selling it. However, Finn sheep wool is prized for its exceptional softness, ease of felting, and beautiful sheen, making it an ideal material for sustainable textiles.
Consumer and user demand helps to increase the use of domestic wool, and we can play our part by bringing it into our homes with our own creativity. By boosting awareness and demand for Finn sheep wool, we can help reduce waste, support local farmers, and promote eco-friendly textile practices.
Finn sheep wool, as a natural, renewable, and biodegradable resource, minimises waste and reduces the carbon footprint by cutting down on long-distance transport. Sourcing locally not only supports Finnish farmers and artisans but also strengthens the local economy while preserving traditional craftsmanship.
In our workshop, we explored how Finn sheep wool could be used to create sustainable, high-quality textiles, demonstrating the importance of utilising local resources to build a closed-loop, eco-friendly system.
A workshop to inspire change
Through this workshop, we hoped to inspire participants to look more keenly at the natural materials around them and discover how they could make small but meaningful choices when purchasing new or up-cycling, contributing to the circular economy. By learning about mushroom dyeing and working with Finn sheep wool, attendees gained new insights into how their wardrobe and textiles could reflect a sustainable, eco-lifestyle.