VN – 15 May, 2026

Greetings Fermenting Cultures family!

Today, we’re stepping away from the kitchen table to share an exciting new project, Gooho from our awesome graphic designer Emma Hall. Emma and her collaborator Anna Cavenago are creating the most beautiful screen prints using vegetable dyes from avocado, eucalyptus, etc.

This is super-exciting news for us a Fermenting Cultures HQ. There is a connection between fermentation and traditional West African textiles that use natural dyes. Fabrics including adire and kente use fermented indigo plant (indigofera or lonchocarpus cyanescans.) to create the renowned rich blue tones. Bogolan or mud cloth is created using fermented mud, resulting in earthy hues ranging from ochre to deep black.

The fabrics have huge cultural significance across West Africa. These practices go back generations. Produced by artisans, these labour intensive techniques are under threat from mass produced imports.

We’re sharing some of the traditional West African fabrics we’ve collected over the years (adire, kente, and bogolan). They bring huge joy!

If you're in Lisbon on 30th May, check out Gooho’s workshop, and learn how to screenprint using natural dyes. For details visit: Gooho

Photos:
1 & 2: Gooho Project
3. Various bogolan/mud cloth
4: Adire fabric
5: Fermented Cultures x Adire