Notes from the Field: What We’ve Learned Gathering Leaves

Every piece we create at Jasmine Bains begins not at the dye pot or design board—but in the open arms of nature.

Leaf gathering is more than a step in our eco-printing process; it’s a ritual. A quiet communion. A pause in a noisy world.

As we walk through gardens, trails, and quiet corners of the earth, we’ve come to learn a few things—not just about leaves, but about time, texture and the poetry of imperfection.

1. Seasons Speak—We Just Have to Listen                                                         Some leaves print better in spring, others in autumn. We’ve learned to watch for signs: the blush of new growth, the firm resistance of a leaf’s texture, the crispness that whispers, “I’m ready.” There’s no calendar here—just intuition honed by patience.

2. Not All Leaves Are Created Equal (And That’s Beautiful)                      Eucalyptus,Amaltas, rose—each speaks its own language on fabric. Some leave deep outlines. Others just a soft ghost of themselves. It’s humbling to realize we don’t control the outcome; nature decides.

3. Flaws Are Where the Magic Hides
A torn edge. A nibbled vein. A leaf curled by the sun. We used to avoid these. Now, they’re our favourite prints—echoes of resilience, weather and life. The fabric becomes a diary of natural history.

4. This Practice Slows You Down—in the Best Way                                                 You can’t rush leaf-picking. It’s a slow dance between hand and ground, between noticing and knowing. With every foraging walk, we return calmer, more grounded, more aware of beauty that often goes unnoticed.

5. Nature Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect to Be Precious                                          What we collect is never flawless. What we create isn’t either. But it’s honest. And real. And full of quiet soul.

So the next time you wear a Jasmine Bains garment, know that it carries more than just dye. It holds a moment of stillness, a trace of the wind, and the gentle imprint of a leaf that once whispered, “I was here”.

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