Tie Dye - Hand Dyed Fabrics In Fashion

By Melanie Brummer

Because people have added color to cloth for as long as they have been covering their nakedness, it is inevitable that hand dyed finishes will remain a feature of fashion, which tries to grab the eye with unusual customised effects.

We are all familiar with the heavy decorative bleaching that is so prevalent in denimwear products. These decorative finishes emered from China in the 80’s and 90’s and today no wardrobe is complete without pair of denims that appears to be stressed by age, but that was only purchased the day before. The fabric is stressed using enzymes, bleach and even electric sanding machines to give it that well-worn look.

In 2001 and 2002 Prada took tie dye to the catwalks, and for a couple of seasons the world followed slavishly in his wake. Mostly we saw graded colors, fading smoothly one into another, but we also saw harsh contrasting splits of dark color on light backgrounds. There was delicate dyed striping over fabric that was already printed with a stripe, to create uniquely layered effects.

While the European season for tie dye is usually short-lived and faddish in nature, the African fashion scene is quite different. Tie dye has been practiced throughout the continent for centuries. Northern and central Africa has a rich tradition of hand dyed fabrics. For this reason, you will find tie dye in most Afro-Centric fashion ranges, on a regular basis.

In 2005 South African Fashion Week was alive with tie-dyed finishes, represented in the ranges of Stoned Cherrie, Marion & Lindie, Black Coffee, Sun Goddess, JJ Schoeman and Vino Moodley. Gavin Rajah did his bit at Cape Town Fashion Week.

Tie dye has a truly African aspect. It is a craft that one can start with almost nothing, and turn into an income for even the very poor. This is why it will continue to thrive in Africa and India where unemployment is high.

Tie dye will always liven up the local fashion scene due to its versatile nature. Tie dye turns the ordinary into something unique and unusual, a state that many yearn for in this era of mass production and sameness. Tie dye is hand crafted color. It is time for the return of the artisan.

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