“Art is and has always been a wonderful medium for storytelling. Different people react to different forms of artwork as we are by nature, tactile and visual beings. By using art to evoke emotions out of people we can use this as an advantage to also educate the viewer on subjects they may not have thought about, like sustainability. As artists, we can also show the viewer how to creatively look at sustainability as something that is exciting and beautiful”
Mia Sylvia is an internationally acclaimed and award winning fine art textile designer, artist and educator. Mia specialises in the world of natural dyes. Each dye is hand made from ingredients such as plants, flowers, food waste and scrap metals. As an artist, Mia curates sculptural textile centrepieces, ethereal fabric installations, bespoke hand and plant dyed napkins, table runners, and ribbons.
Mia Sylvia’s visionary fabric installations and sculptural centre pieces transform spaces into otherworldly atmospheres. Wildly beautiful textiles are woven into ethereal works of art that reveal hidden dimensions and exude elegance.
Mia has exhibited her artworks twice at the Tate Modern, been interviewed and recognised by the creative team at Instagram, designed installations at SKETCH, Selfridges and curated elevated art pieces for London Fashion Week.
Behind the Brand
What was the initial spark for your brand, how did it all begin?
Creativity has always been deeply rooted in my soul. I studied art and textile design. I have always known I would have my own business, and during my first year of university I began trading at festivals and artisan markets. During my studies as an artist, I specialized in embroidery and then progressed into color theory.
I felt uneasy using chemical dyes so researched into the ancient practice of natural dyes.
I spent three years harnessing different recipes with colour and natural foraged ingredients and experimented on regenerated textiles and clothing. I would hand dye vintage and second-hand wedding dresses and style my exhibition spaces with textiles. It was at one of these exhibitions that a wedding photographer saw my art and asked me to design a backdrop for a photoshoot. This is when I began immersing myself into the wedding industry.
What are you inspired by at the moment in the world of weddings?
I am inspired by structure, form and negative space. The power of textures that can elevate a table design creating depth and romance
An alchemist in the natural world
From forest walks to camping holidays, I spent a lot of time outdoors as a kid. It’s where I learnt about nature, the great outdoors and making artwork using found objects.I have always loved ‘foraging’ for my wardrobe and home, hunting down gems in charity shops and car boot sales, upcycling and restyling wherever possible.
My passions for regenerative decorating and design, recycling and using nature’s bounty all came together in my work when I fell in love with screen printing and dyeing at university.
After studying textile design at university, I decided I wanted to combine my environmental activism with my love of charity shop hunting and the great outdoors to make naturally stunning textiles that don’t cost the earth.
As a botanical dye specialist, I work with everything from foraged flowers and foliage to food waste, spices and even rusted metal to create unique, beautiful textiles that are natural one-offs.
Everything I use is either found or foraged and regenerative design influences every decision I make.
In addition to my studio work, I’ve taught artisanal workshops all over the world, teaching people how to harness colour within our natural world. And as a colour alchemist and experienced stylist, I love being able to transform venues through textiles, colour and nature’s finest.
Whether it’s running workshops, styling weddings or helping someone update a beloved piece, I’m never happier than working with nature to showcase and bring to life the rainbow of natural pigments that are all around us.