In the early 1970's, Miriam C. Rice discovered that the pigments from mushrooms can make beautiful and colorfast natural dyes.She wrote her first book on the subject "Let's Try Mushrooms for Color", Thresh Publications, 1974, and then, an expanded version "Mushrooms for Color", Mad River Press, 1980.

As a result of increasing world wide interest in this new fiber artform, the International Mushroom Dye Institute (IMDI) was created in 1985 by Miriam with the intent to form a non-profit organization for educational purposes and to promote the use of mushroom dyes around the world as an alternative dye source for fiber artists.

Goals of the IMDI

Compile a history about the art of mushroom dyeing

Build a library of mushroom dye research

Encourage research into mushroom pigments

Research possibilities of cultivating mushroom dye fungi

Facilitate communication between Mushroom Dye Fiber Artists around the world

Provide lectures and workshops about Mushroom Dyes

Create a bi-annual newsletter for members - The Dye-Gest

The Invitation Still Stands...
"Stay with, join in, and pass it on!,
My thanks and gratitude to all contributors and their
contributions to the expanding knowledge of and continuous
experience with mushrooms for color and texture."
Miriam C. Rice, Director,
International Mushroom Dye Institute

Please join us!