Shibori

Do a Google search for the word "Shibori" and you will find hundreds of thousands of references to sites with pictures and descriptions of a process that looks very much like the craft that we know in the West as "tie dye".

Although the Hippies adopted it as their own symbol of individuality, the craft is far more ancient and it predates them by centuries. Dyeing cloth with decorative finishes is a national artform in Japan and they have used it there from the beginning of time to embellish their kimonos.

There is an International Shibori Symposium that takes place every year where textile enthusiasts gather to compare notes and marvel at the range of finishes that are possible using these techniques.

It is the art of "shaped resist dyeing" where patterns are formed by excluding dye from certain parts of the cloth by creating pressure between the layers of the cloth and the bindings.

The most beautiful definition that I found in my research called it "Slow Fiber - a thoughtful approach to 'the making of things' - a philosophy that is most plainly explained as 'being bound by an integrity of product'"

You can learn more about this ancient craft on the World Shibori Network on Facebook or at http://shiboriorg.wordpress.com/projects/slow-fiber

Have a great day in full colour!

Kind regards

Melanie

+27835689150

Keeping It Contemporary

Different people have different perceptions about tie dye. For many, it evokes pictures of long-haired hippies and their alternative lifestyle.

Did you know that tie dye has been use in fashion throughout the ages?

It is a national artform in Japan. Do a Google search for the term "shibori" and see how many pages come up with information about hand dyed fabrics. The Japanese people have used hand dyed techniques to embellish their kimonos for centuries and you can find their hand dyed textiles in their national museums and galleries.

In India the knowledge is passed down from father to son and mother to daughter and India is steeped in a culture of hand embellished textiles. Indian women will sit for hours and stitch individual grains of rice into their saris, which they then hand over to the dye technicians to colour with dye. Afterwards, they sit and carefully unpick every stitch to reveal the delicate pattern underneath.

Countries like Kenya and Ghana produce signature textiles that reflect their vibrant culture and tell the stories of their people.

Local designers like Stoned Cherrie and Sun Goddess have made extensive use of hand dyed finishes to differentiate their clothes with an authentic African feel and charm. Tie dye allows a designer to create garments in season colours, on-demand.

In Europe, top designers like Prada and Versace are doing the same. Go to http://www.ohlalamag.com/en/2010/01/versace-spring-summer-2010-round-3.html to see how Versace has used tie dye to create the most stunning silk shirts for men in 2010.

How you view tie dye is a matter of your individual perspective and framework. What is clear is that it is versatile and timeless. It has been used for as long as people have been making cloth and it will continue to add value to the clothing industry for as long as people crave to express their individuality through their clothes.