Tie Dye. What images pop into your mind when you hear this word? I think of the 60’s, hippies, peace signs and free love. But does anyone ever think past these images?

Seeing as tie-dye is our first baby collection and has remained our most popular seller, I thought it would be fun to delve deeper and gain an awareness of what really goes on in creating such rich, vibrant colors and designs. I have a better appreciation of tie-dye now that our wonderful tie-dye artists have explained the process. Not a lot of glamour in the process, but the results are strikingly beautiful.

First, the garments to be dyed are washed in hot water using soda ash to remove any oil left in the fabric by the knitting process. The oil is invisible, but it can prevent the dye from reaching the fabric. Then (and this is where the true talent of the artist comes into play) the garments are tied up to create the designs. Rubber bands secure the folds. The fabric inside the folds does not take the dye like the outside does. One of our designs calls for crumpling of the garment by pulling the fabric. Our mandala design is created by folding the garment in half with pleating around the center of the garment.

After the garment has been tied up, it is ready to be dyed. First, the tied-up garments are soaked in fixer, which is a chemical that makes the dye react with the chemistry of the fabric. I know — getting kind of techno here.

Then the garments are taken out of the fixer and placed on wire grates one at a time. Fiber reactive dyes are used to lock the dye into the fibers of the fabric. The background color is applied first by dipping the garment in a tub of dye. The garment is then laid out on the grates and the other colors are layered on by squirting them on with a squirt bottle one at a time. At this point, the garments need to set overnight on the grates. The climate plays an important role in the process. Fairly warm and dry weather creates the best results.

The garments go through two washings in a hot washer with detergent. During the first washing and rinsing, the garments stay bundled. The rubber bands are then removed, and the garments are washed and rinsed again. Then, the grand finale, these now beautifully-dyed garments are placed in the dryer. So you see, with this double washing and drying process, virtually all shrinkage and excess dye have been removed.

So now when you see that lovely tie-dyed garment, you will know a little bit about the process involved and also know that talented and gifted hands created that work of art. Happy and fortunate are we to be associated with such talent!