Before the pigment. Before the petal. Before the cloth meets the dye — there is a wingbeat.

Today, on World Bee Day, we honour the beings who make our rituals possible.

The quiet workers behind our soft golden marigold.
The flight that touches hibiscus blush before we do.
The pollinators who begin what we only complete.

At T.Berry, many of our natural dyes — turmeric, rose, saffron, madder root, indigo — begin as blossoms.
And those blossoms begin with bees.

No petals to steep.
No threads to stain.
No cloth to offer.

What we wear, what we wrap with care, what we gift to others — all of it is touched, first, by a being in flight.

Each bee is part of our process.
An invisible collaborator in every piece that leaves our atelier.
And today, we acknowledge them with deep reverence.

From petal to pigment, it’s all a collaboration.

Why Bees Matter More Than We Realise

Bees are more than pollinators — they are ecological engineers. Over 75% of flowering plants, including 90+ food crops worldwide, rely on pollinators to reproduce. From almonds to apples, cardamom to cotton, bees shape the foods we eat and the fibres we wear.

In Ayurvedic practice, plants are not just medicine but memory. And bees ensure the continuity of those plant lineages. Without bees, we lose not only food security, but cultural and botanical inheritance.

Across traditional agricultural systems — especially in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa — bees support the growing of medicinal herbs, native fruits, and sacred flowers. They play an irreplaceable role in biodiverse farming systems that sustain both land and community. In forest ecosystems, they enable the regeneration of trees and wild plants, supporting wildlife habitats and local economies alike.

Yet globally, bee populations are under strain. According to the FAO, nearly 35% of invertebrate pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, face extinction. In India, studies have observed sharp declines in native bee diversity across agricultural zones due to monoculture farming and pesticide use, with several wild bee species now considered at risk. In the United States, honeybee colonies have declined by over 40% in recent years. in recent years. Wild bee species are even more vulnerable. These declines aren't isolated — they reflect a widespread weakening of the ecosystems that support life as we know it.

The Science of Pollination — And What Happens Without It

Pollination is how life moves forward.

When bees visit a flower in search of nectar, pollen grains stick to their bodies and are transferred to other blossoms. This simple exchange enables fertilisation, seed production, and the continuation of plant life.

But pollinator populations are in crisis. Driven by habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and monoculture farming, global bee populations have declined drastically. In some regions, wild bee species are near collapse.

The ripple effect is enormous: fewer pollinators means fewer fruits, fewer seeds, and diminished biodiversity. A world without bees is not just less colourful. It is less alive.

Beyond agriculture, bees support entire ecosystems. Their work feeds birds, mammals, and other insects who rely on fruiting plants for food. Forest regeneration, soil quality, and the survival of countless wild plant species depend on the simple, constant act of pollination. In protecting bees, we protect the integrity of entire ecosystems — the very web of life that supports us all.

What We're Doing — Atelier Actions That Honour the Hive

At T.Berry, we believe that beauty must tread lightly and give back. It must nourish more than the surface.

So this year, we’re transforming a corner of our atelier terrace garden into a bee-friendly garden. We're planting wild marigold, calendula, mogra and tulsi — all blooms that feed the pollinators who, in turn, help our dye plants bloom.

We use only organically grown or ethically wildcrafted botanicals, and we work with low-impact dye methods to avoid chemical runoff that harms insect life. This is part of a broader commitment to planetary wellness. From dye bath to compost, we aim to close the loop wherever possible — returning nutrients to the soil and keeping our processes gentle on the ecosystems that support us. Each choice we make, from sourcing to stitching, is rooted in a long-term view: that true luxury leaves as little trace and as much care as possible.

Five Simple Ways You Can Help the Bees

Even small acts create powerful ripples. Here are five thoughtful, research-supported ways you can support pollinators in your daily life:

1. Plant for the pollinators.
   Grow nectar-rich, bee-friendly plants like marigold, lavender, basil, hibiscus, echinacea, or native wildflowers. Even a window box or balcony pot can become a miniature haven for pollinators. Studies show that urban gardens significantly support biodiversity when thoughtfully planted.
2. Avoid chemical pesticides.
   Choose organic produce when possible, and avoid using chemical sprays in your home garden. Pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, are known to interfere with bee navigation and immune systems.
3. Support regenerative farmers and ethical beekeepers.
   Choose raw, local honey from sustainable producers who prioritise bee health and avoid industrial over-harvesting. Ask your farmers' market how they protect pollinators, and support farms that plant cover crops and maintain wild margins.
4. Leave a little wild.
   Let a small patch of your garden or nearby green space bloom naturally. Bees love so-called 'weeds' like clover, dandelion, nettles, and plantain. Dandelions, for instance, are more than wild blooms — they’re ancient superfoods and are still used today in traditional systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for their detoxifying and healing properties. Perhaps it’s time we relook at what we dismiss as weeds. Messiness, in this case, is a form of care.
5. Talk about it.
   Share what you learn with others. Conversations — even quiet ones — increase awareness, inspire planting, and protect pollinators by shifting collective choices.

As we prepare the new season’s garden at the atelier, this journal becomes a small altar — a gesture of gratitude, held in words.

Happy World Bee Day
From all of us at T.Berry — to the ones who make the Earth bloom,
and those who help safeguard the quiet custodians of our food and future.

Sources referenced: FAO, IPBES, USDA Bee Health Reports, Journal of Pollination Ecology, Royal Society Publishing, and traditional knowledge systems including Ayurveda and TCM.

This piece of writing is a part of the T.Berry Field Notes

A series of papers and observations on Earth, ecology, biodiversity, and botanical care — stories from the ground up, curated from the atelier writing desk.