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- History of Tie Dye-
From the summer of ’69 to your latest concert (and even the runway), trippy tie dyes are transcending time and becoming the trend that simply won’t end! Take a trip through history and discover why tie dye is a popular craze that certainly won’t cease to crowd our closets.
Tie-Dyeing through Time
While the vibrant and psychedelic tie-dye designs as we know them gained popularity in the ‘60s, the history of the techniques are much older. The Bandhani technique of dyeing, which comes from the Sanskrit word bandh, to tie, has been practiced in India since as early as 4000 B.C. The first recorded use of the resist dyeing style called Shibori was as early as the eighth century in Eastern Japan. The Hausa region of Africa is renowned for its indigo-dyed pieces which are richly embroidered, and Thailand also has its own ancient art form of tie-dying called Mudmee.
Though they didn’t call it tie-dyeing, cultures around the world have been manipulating fabric using stitching, ties, and other techniques combined with natural dyes to create bold and unique patterns for thousands of years. Traveling halfway around the world and through time to centuries in the future, this awesome form of self-expression would find its true home with the hippies!
Stand Up and Stand Out
The anti-war peace-loving hippies of the ‘60s are truly responsible for introducing the American population to the timeless trend of tie-dyeing. Not only were the psychedelic (and often handmade) designs a cheap and accessible technique to customize your clothes and show your individuality, they were also a symbol of peaceful rebellion. The rainbow hues and trippy designs of tie-dye stood in stark comparison of the bland and conservative clothing of the ‘50s that their parents wore. If you threw on a tie-dye, it wasn’t just because you thought it was cool, it was a public protest of the strict social, political, and sexual norms you wanted desperately to reject.
Transcendent Style
Now, tie-dye is EVERYWHERE. You can find them almost anywhere- from head shops to high-end boutiques and festivals to the runway! Of course, not all dyes are created equal- that's why we teamed up with a talented group of artists to bring you the highest quality dyes and most psychedelic designs, hand-tied and dyed right here in the USA.
From psychedelic swirls to cool crackle, we can’t get enough of these vibrant and symbolic shirts. Whether you go for the classic spiral or something more intricate like a v-style or peace sign, throw on your tee and transport yourself back to the peaceful mindset of the summer of ’69.
No matter the time, in our book, tie-dye is ALWAYS in style.
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