This month, I am delighted to share an interview with Marie Farneth and Maddalena Forcella of Madda Studio, a brand offering some of the most exquisite naturally dyed woolen textiles on the market.
This brand's magic lies in its variation, attention to detail, process, and techniques. They work with untreated wool from Chiapas, sourced from the only sheep breed that survived the Spanish arrival in Mexico. The wool is handspun, creating an incredibly unique texture that sets them apart. They weave traditionally and play with the color of the warp to create depth variations, making textiles feel warmer or colder depending on the colors.
They’ve built a custom color palette using raw materials for dyeing—one of the most time-consuming parts of the process. Founder Madda creates a recipe for each color. They apply color theory by combining indigo, marigolds, and cochineal, and by blending in various shades of natural wool, they achieve various colors. Their marigolds are collected after Dia de Los Muertos, then dried and stored. They collaborate with local indigo farmers and go the extra mile to connect with regional producers. They also gather nut shells and bark for shades of brown. Since the wool is untreated and retains its natural shine, it absorbs dye beautifully; considerable know-how is needed to achieve Madda’s quality. This variability, stemming from the uniqueness of the materials, is the essence of Madda Studio and their approach.