The Symposium-Workshop brought together about 600 master craftpersons, researchers and specialists in natural dyes and craft promoters from the five continents.

UNESCO took the initiative to organize an International Symposium / Workshop on natural dyes in India in 2006 in partnership with the Crafts Council of India, and in cooperation with Dastkar Andhra, a non-profit trust concerned with the promotion of artisanal skills working with cotton handloom weavers.

The coordination of the scientific aspects of the Symposium and Workshops on natural dyes has been entrusted to Ms Dominique Cardon, Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, CNRS, UMR 5648 (Lyon), author of the publication "Le Monde des teintures naturelles" - the world of natural dyes (Editions Belin, April 2003).

The aim of this encounter was to attain practical outcomes based on the diversity of experiences and respectful of the variety of natural, social and cultural environment of the concerned craftspeople. The Symposium encompassed all aspects of the use of natural dyes: scientific, technical and cultural, societal and economical (final programme).

Poster presentations, exhibitions-sales, workshops and dyeing demonstrations took place simultaneously. 

A report of the Symposium, containing the recommendations that emerged from the discussions after each session, as well as the exchange of experiences at the workshops has been issued.

A document containing the interventions that have been presented during the Symposium is also published on this web site (interventions).

For more information, please contact Mr. Indrasen Vencatachellum or Ms Marlène Zenié (Section for Crafts and Design)