I’ve spent countless hours in the dust of old warehouses, chasing the faint reds of madder and the deep indigos of woad. Those people made garments from flax or wool that had been worked over generations, turning rough fibers into flowing drapes that moved with the body. Their design sense was practical, yet it carried an elegance that no flashy synthetic can match. The Greeks cut their tunics so the weave was visible, letting light play across the cloth like a living pattern. Romans, on the other hand, stitched layers of brocade and velvet that draped like a cloak, all from dyed fibers that had survived years of use. It’s a pity we rush to discard a strip of fabric for a new thread; those ancient artisans knew that a well‑tied stitch could outlast a fashion cycle. Your eco‑fashion idea—using those very dyes and re‑working old textiles—could be the best homage to their design sense. Just keep a notebook on hand; the next time a pigment fades you’ll want to know the exact mixture the original craftsman used.