Waxon Batik & Dye Studio

GRADE LEVEL: K through 12th

Bring your students to WAXON Studio in West Asheville for a hands-on fabric transformation experience! Students will explore textile traditions from around the world while learning a variety of dyeing techniques, including dip dyeing (in the style of Japanese Shibori), bottle tie-dyeing, and/or dyeing with ice cubes.

Duration: 90 minutes (flexible)

Group Size: One class per session; multiple sessions available for different classes.

This immersive residency invites students to:

• Investigate global textile traditions and their cultural significance.

• Experiment with color application methods using safe, age-appropriate materials with permanent, professional results.

• Connect science and art by observing how dye interacts with cloth, and by learning the chemistry of fiber reactive dyes and cellulose fibers.

• Express creativity by transforming their own clothing items.

• Practice Sustainability by upcycling already-owned clothing from the students’ own closets (think: cotton t-shirts, pillowcases, socks) and giving them new life with dyes.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, students will:

• Identify at least two traditional fabric dyeing methods and their cultural origins.

• Understand basic chemical and physical processes involved in fabric dyeing.

• Apply creative decision-making to produce a personalized textile work.

• Make cross-curricular connections between visual arts, cultural history, and science.