Pretty in the City

Posts Tagged ‘dye’

Hippie Tie

From Hippie Art, to Creative Fashion

Tie-dye is considered a fashion art form just like beading and embroidery. It is a practice that concentrates the tint color in the textiles by tying or folding them to create different shapes. Its origin started out in Asia with antique techniques in dying fabrics. It is highly associated with hippies, surfers and bohemians, but today, it reappears to combine with bracelets and other accessories of ethnic inspiration. Today it’s not a trippy starburst rainbow; it has been replaced with irregular arcs and stripes often seen in cocktail dresses and even casual tops to combine with jeans, shorts or mini skirts. Tie Dye is also a popular look for a day out at the beach, whether in a skirt or a sarong, tie dye is often seen around the most famous beaches worldwide.

Nothing said “hippie” better than the psychedelic color explosion and unique designs from the old style of tie-dye; it is one of the most ancient forms of fabric design, by human manipulation. Dye can only penetrate loose fabric; it has to be as close to 100% cotton as possible since it does not stick to polyester. Just lock some sections by adding pins, tying fabric in knots or with rubber bands and this way, the dye cannot reach these parts of the fabric, therefore creating a rainbow of colors and a unique design.

Hippies included a little creativity by adding peace signs and hearts to their visual trippy designs. This technique became a hippie ritual since it was an anti-commercial “do it yourself” characterization of owned fashion. Today, designers are turning to this again, trying to own their designs and making them special so they can stay away from imitators or regular people who try to do it themselves so they can afford some shopping money.

Tie-Dye was reborn in the 80’s when a new generation started wearing the shirts their parents wore when they were youngsters at Woodstock, other than shirts these included tie-dye sheets, socks, and bags, among other pieces. Tie-dye was and is still the style of choice for people who need a little psychedelic wardrobe to remember the old days, tie-dye will never die.

Now it’s your turn to try some creativity with your wardrobe, look for your favorite shirt or dress, fabric dye, gloves, rubber bands and a bowl. Damp your clothes in water and fold it as if you were making a paper fan, continue doing this in other areas and hold them with a rubber band or a clothespin. Once you have gathered the sections to dye, place it in the bowl, put on your gloves and mix the dye in the bowl. Do the same thing in the other side, stirring your fabric so the dye penetrates well. You can leave it on for 24 hours, and then rinse with warm water and let air dry. Use a pack of cheap T-shirts for your first draft; you will get the hang of it.

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hippie tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree

Westland Giftware Mwah Magnetic Hippie Couple Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, 3-3/4-Inch $10.48 Peace Hippie Couple Kiss Salt & Pepper Shakers Set…

Spoontiques Peace Sign 16-Ounce Insulated Tumbler – Great for Hot or Cold Drinks – No Sweat double walled plastic Cup $11.99 Spread the word of peace and show some love with this insulated tumbler! Decorated in rainbow, tie-dye peace signs everyone will know just how hip and cool you really are! Comes with a snap on lid with sliding closure. Fits standard cup holders….

The Beatles Abbey Road Tie Dye 6 oz. Boxed Flask $19.95 Conceal your spirits in this discrete drinking flask featuring the album art from Abbey Road on the front….

One Way / Disctronics September 2003 CD: Robert Cray / Lizz Wright / String Cheese Incident / Keller Williams / Gavin DeGraw / Over the Rhine / Yerba Buena / Robert Randolph / The Slackers / Weakerthans / Pat Metheny / Beulah / Fire Bug / Luther Wright / Kimberlee / Lili Haydn / Nicholas Payton Tracks: 1. Robert Cray – “Up in the Sky”; 2. Lizz Wright – “Salt”; 3. String Cheese Incident – “Who Am I?”; 4. Keller Williams – “Love Handles”; 5. Gavin DeGraw – “Follow Through”; 6. Over the Rhine – “Show Me”; 7. Yerba Buena – “Guajira (I Luv U 2 Much)”; 8. Robert Randolph and the Family Band – “I Need More Love”; 9. The Slackers – “Mommy”; 10. The Weakerthans – “Our Retired Explorer”; 11. Pat M…

Spooled Hemp Twine 170# Tst 1Kg – Craft Supply $24.95 Make your own jewelery and crafts with this 100% spooled hemp twine.Twine 170# Test, 1 Kg. spool….

WallPops! WPD99954 Tie-Dye Peace MiniPops $15.99 This tie-dye peace wall art kit is a celebration of love and happiness. with peace symbols, doves and the grooviest flowers around your walls be bursting with love….

Polished Hemp Twine – 20# Tst – 1KG Craft Supplies Unique Hemp $26.95 1 Kg. spool of polished 100% true hemp twine. Thin 100-gram 20# Test, 2-ply….

Peace, Love & Apple PI – Vinyl Laptop or Macbook Decal $5.99 Dimensions: approx (6.65″w x 2″h or 16.89cm x 5.08cm) Made in the USA with the highest quality vinyl and attention to detail. Orders generally ship within 1-2 business days of purchase. WE SHIP ANYWHERE!…

Backlit Heart – Vinyl Laptop or Macbook Decal $5.00 Dimensions: approx (3″w x 3″h or 7.62cm x 7.62cm) Made in the USA with the highest quality vinyl and attention to detail. Orders generally ship within 1-2 business days of purchase. WE SHIP ANYWHERE!…

Fallen Angels – Mousepad $9.95 Very cool mousepad – those cute little angels have a vice or two! A real conversation piece for your office… ….