TO DYE FOR!
Popularised in the 60s and 70s through the hippie movement, tye-dye originated in ancient times and has never gone out of fashion since. In fact, the big names in the industry still include tye-dye pieces in their collections today. Their handcrafted character and creative potential make them a democratic trend with versions to please everyone.
IN ANCIENT TIMES
Although it became popular in the 60s and 70s in the USA through the hippie movement, this is a technique that comes from antiquity, in places like Asia and Africa. Records show that between the 6th and 7th centuries, the method of tying and dyeing was ingrained in these cultures as the primary way of combining colours in fabric. In Japan, the technique was known as shibori; in India, bandhani. Although similar, they differed in the way they tied the fabric and the pigments used.
THE 70'S
The term tye-dye as we know it today was introduced to the West in the 60s and 70s, in the United States, when the hippie movement adopted it and made it culturally visible. Essentially handmade, it became a symbol of freedom and social revolutions. It was possible to find tye-dye on the most varied pieces: t-shirts, trousers, dresses, even in accessories. The trend reached a larger number of people when it was embraced by celebrities from show business like Janis Joplin, John Sebastian or Joe Cocker, thus catapulting it a little bit all over the world.
THE 90S
In the 1990s, the tye-dye technique was incorporated into the fashion industry through the influence of the so-called Clubbers, an urban tribe originating in the United Kingdom, responsible for spreading house and techno music, revolutionising nightlife in large urban centres and setting trends.
DIY: how to do it?
The secret is in the way we tie the fabric. There is no single way of doing it and the result will always be different.
The process consists of three steps:
1. Tying
At this stage, we prepare the fabric - which should be light-coloured. It consists in tying the piece with string, ropes, elastics, knots, etc., preventing certain areas of the fabric from being dyed by the dyeing matter.
2. Dyeing
This is the ideal moment to give free rein to your imagination. Choose the colours you want to use, dampen the fabric and dye random parts between the bindings. The most useful method is to dilute the dye in boiling water and spray it on the fabric using a tube.
3. Wash
Finally, wait for the fabric to dry and wash it. If you want a softer final tone, you should wash the piece while it is still damp, reducing the amount of dye absorbed. Keep in mind that the first few washes should be done separately, to prevent the pieces from staining.
