Flying colours

Chapter 1

Kassia St Clair

Kassia St Clair is a freelance writer and columnist for Elle Decoration. Her forthcoming book ‘The Secret Lives of Colour’ covers 75 of history’s most fascinating hues and a few yarns that go with them. We talk to her about her three favourites.

Chapter 2

Indigo dyeing with Story mfg

Today some 90 per cent of clothing is dyed synthetically but a discerning audience and a move towards a slower, more sustainable idea of fashion is piquing an interest in natural dyes once more. We visit the HQ of sustainable clothiers Story mfg to get our hands dirty with some indigo dyeing.

Chapter 3

Colour in fashion

Monocle’s Jamie Waters takes us through some of the most notable uses of colour in fashion, from the companies who are doing it well to those who are eschewing it. Plus: a landmark copyright ruling that could colour the future of the industry.

Chapter 4

John Sutcliffe

John Sutcliffe is a decorative painter and author whose luxuriously bound books explore the colours of buildings in Rome and the Cyclades. His research method involves painstakingly gathering colour samples from walls and edifices and reproducing them on site. We sit down with him to discuss his work.