Millau: a colorful designer, Floriane Danezis organizes vegetable dyeing workshops in her boutique

Floriane Danezis présente une chemise qu'elle a confectionné Midi Libre – Romane Levi

l'essentiel Dans son atelier boutique rue Droite à Millau, Floriane Danezis confectionne des vêtements en teinture végétale. Une pratique ancestrale qu’elle remet au goût du jour à travers des ateliers ludiques.

A graduate of Fine Arts, Floriane Danezis arrived in Aveyron in 2009. Following an accident, she was forced to change her activity. First training in sewing with Catherine André, she launched her own brand in 2014: Oogaya. When asked why she chose this name, the young woman initially responds with a laugh. “This name was born from the desire to work in connection with nature. Gaya (Gaïa) is the nourishing mother earth. Why O ? Especially to pay a great tribute to nature !"

From the launch of her production, the designer was keen to make clothes only with colored natural materials. A year later, Floriane discovered vegetable dyeing and she trained in it. “I wanted to be as close as possible to my values. I wanted to go beyond simply using natural materials.”I also wanted to be able to draw. Linking my “talent” from artist to my craftsmanship".

The designer exploits her color explorations on different fabrics Midi Libre – Romane Levi

After two years of training, experimentation and first sales of accessories at markets and fairs, the young artist responded to a call for projects from the community of communes of Millau. Launched in 2021, the Fabrique à Boutiques operation enabled, for three consecutive years, the "subletting of vacant shops in the heart of the town of Millau, at very low rents. attractive", as detailed on the Millau Grands Causses website. "I applied without really believing in it and they took on my project. That’s where it all started, in a more lasting way."

"With madder, we obtain reds, with gaude, yellow and with indigo, blue"

Blowing out the first candle in her boutique on Rue Droite this month, the designer now makes clothes using vegetable dye. The latter can only be used on natural materials such as cotton, wool, wool or linen. Washing at high temperature, mordanting, sizing (not for all fibers!), so many steps necessary for this ancestral practice, before conception.

Deploring the environmentally disastrous practices of the textile industry, Floriane emphasizes that it is "important that artisans like ( she) educate people to buy responsibly, not to overconsume. "You think about your purchase and you keep it for a long time".

The young designer offers workshops for children so that they can discover this practice. "I take them to the vat of indigo so that they can see the magic that happens there. You dip your fabric in the tank, it comes out yellow. It turns green with oxygen, then it turns blue.

"Children are our future"

For the young dyer, it is essential to pass on this knowledge to children. "This knowledge is really being lost", she regrets. The latter also wishes to fight against preconceived ideas about this non-polluting practice, unlike the modern textile industry. "We can make things that are environmentally friendly and solid. If we don't make children aware of this idea, they will have the same speech later. Committed and radiant, Floriane Danezis hopes to be able to pass on her knowledge to the greatest number.

Oogaya creations vegetable dye, 39 rue Droite in Millau. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Contact: 06 95 18 90 90

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