Each season I test out a new type of hand dyeing technique. For SS17 it was the shibori technique, for FW1718, it was the ice dyeing. Well, for SS18 I went for a type of tie dyeing technique.

The result reminds me a lot of how the surface of water looks when you look at it from underwater. Something I've been doing since I was a kid. I just love how the light shines through and creates a pattern, especially when in the ocean and the waves make movement in the print! Ah! I love it!

So for this technique, you make the garment and then dye it. So, once the jacket is sewn, you bunch it up randomly while holding it flat and place elastics around it. Use as many as you can to keep it secure without putting too many. For this tie dye technique it's less about the elastics and more about the fold. So you really don't want to use too many elastics. Each garment will have a different tucking look as you can see from the first and second photos.


Next, we place the bunched up jacket in a ziplock type bag (I re-used some bags that I had from some supply orders I got) Then I add in my pre-mixed dye. I achieved the color from mixing three Procion Fiber Reactive Dye colors together, and some Soda Ash to help the fibers absorb the dye). You want to put enough liquid that it covers the surface of the jacket and is absorbed without having any excess liquid in the bag. This really only takes 1 to 2 cups of dye liquid.

Since each jacket is dyed individually the color varies from garment to garment. Once the dye has sit for about 24 hours, they are all washed together in a regular cycle with cold water and a mild, eco-friendly detergent. And then hung to dry.

You'll see the full result in a few weeks! The Melt print will be done on one item for SS18, the Kimono Cover Coat! :)