Shibori Splendor: The Art of Tie-Dye

Throwback to my last trip to Korea! Having the chance to experience and learn something new in another country is such a huge opportunity. During my trip, I visited a natural dyeing workshop in Dongdaemun called Haneul Mulbit with my cousin. We explored shibori dyeing that is actually originated in China before being uniquely adapted by Japan and being conducted in various countries. 

At the workshop, I learned about the history of the shibori plant and how the locals turn it into a dye paste through fermentation. They also explained how the dye turns blue and the origins of this color. This paste is then used to color natural fabrics like linen or cotton. 

The best part was getting to try making the dye from scratch. The instructor taught us how to create different patterns by folding and gathering the fabric. We could also choose to dye items like bags, scarves, handkerchiefs, or t-shirts. I choose to make a scraf and surprisingly they dried faster than i expected because of the weather outside was quite cold.  

I think joining this workshop was incredibly helpful for my capsule collection project. I learned new techniques for forming patterns, which I plan to incorporate into my work. Using natural materials for dyeing also deeply engaged me and fit well with my ongoing project. It was such a fun and enriching experience! I really enjoyed it.