Sustainable fashion in bloom: the Summa dye garden is giving fashion a new lease of life

At Microstad, the Summa Fashion program is blossoming with something special: a Dye Garden. This garden grows plants that were once used to dye fabrics, even before chemical dyes existed. The idea came from Inge van Lierop and Dunja van der Kolk, instructors at Summa Fashion.

"Fashion was once meant to protect us from the elements—from the cold, the sun, and the rain," says Inge van Lierop. "But over the years, it's increasingly become a commercial seasonal game, a trick to fill stores and drain consumers' wallets." With the dye garden at Summa Fashion, Inge and Dunja want to teach their students not only about sustainable alternatives but also about the history of textiles. "Wool as a winter coat, indigo as a dye: we've forgotten these principles. Time to rediscover them. Not out of nostalgia, but because they're valuable and relevant."

The dye garden was created with a clear ideal: it shouldn't just be a garden for Fashion students, but for everyone. "I dream of not only Summa being involved, but also the neighbors from TU/e, Fontys, and other interested parties," explains Inge. "The garden is open to everyone. Anyone who wants to help water the plants is welcome." The dye garden is therefore an invitation to the city of Eindhoven. A place where greenery, craftsmanship, innovation, and well-being converge. "We want to inspire people to look at clothing differently. Not as a disposable item, but as something valuable that you make and wear with care," Inge emphasizes.

Besides the sustainable educational goal, well-being also plays a significant role. "Since the coronavirus pandemic, we've noticed that students' well-being has become more vulnerable," Dunja explains. "Working in the garden, watching something grow, engaging with nature, contributes to a sense of peace and purpose. Microstad, the former KPN building next to Eindhoven Central Station, now largely made of stone and concrete, is getting its first green boost with the dye garden." The first real harvest is expected between late May and September 2025. Students will then be able to experiment with natural dyes and apply their knowledge to sustainable fashion collections.

On June 19th, the "dye garden collection," showcasing clothing dyed with natural materials, will debut at Crafted, where young talent from vocational education (MBO) will present their work. The collection will then travel to "MBO on Stage: FUTURE FACTORY," an event taking place from June 27th to 29th at the Cacaofabriek in Helmond.