Published Date April 30, 2019
The popularity of shibori tie dye has been on the rise the last few years, but this indigo tie-dye fashion trend has actually been around since about the 8th century (that's a lonnnnnnng time ago) and originated in Japan. Here in the 21st century, we're still loving this tie-dye technique and are digging how people are working it into their everyday fashion. Shibori is traditionally a resist-dye technique using indigo dye and can be used to create a variety of beautiful patterns on fabric. We rounded up 5 easy shibori tie-dye fashions you can do yourself using blue dyes in the Tulip Shibori Tie-Dye Kits, but as always, have fun with your tie dye! Try changing up your colors, or using multiple dye colors ... there really is no wrong way to tie dye. Read on to get inspired.
- Tulip Shibori Tie-Dye Kit - 3 color or 5 color
- Cotton, silk or rayon fabric item to tie dye
- PVC pipe or tube for rolling fabric (if using the poll-wrap technique)
Whether you're taking a walk in the park on a beautiful day, brunching with friends or putting in some serious work at the office, you'll look chic every minute of your day in a shibori tie-dye dress! Paired with heels or sandals, a jean jacket or a blazer, this dress will take you from day to night without skipping a beat. Even better, it's super easy to make; snag a white dress online or at the store, grab a PVC pipe and get the simple tutorial here.
Guys can rock shibori too! What we love about shibori is that you can really play with your resist patterns to create new and interesting effects like this T-shirt made with lots of zip ties. Make sure your shirt is 100% cotton, then use the vertical stripe tie-dye technique, adding lots of zip ties on the top half of the shirt and just a few on the bottom half. The result: a look so hot you'll need to run out and grab a snow cone to cool down.
A variation on the vertical stripe tie-dye technique shown above, this shibori tie-dye skirt uses string instead of rubber bands or zip ties. To achieve this look: tightly bind the top of skirt with lots of strands of string and little spacing in between. Indigo blue looks amazing, but you can definitely experiment with other colors or multiple colors depending on the look you are going for. How can you not want to twirl around after creating something so fab?!
We might be biased, but we think lattes taste better when you're wearing tie dye. Everything is better when you're wearing tie dye! This shibori T-shirt is so easy to make using the bullseye tie-dye technique and lots of zip ties. Start on the side of your T-shirt instead of the center and work your way out, binding until you reach the other side of the shirt. Then add dye for a shibori T-shirt we know you'll like "a latte." (Sorry, we couldn't RESIST the pun - or the play on "resist"! Okay we'll stop.)
A lot of people ask if they can tie dye fabrics that aren't 100% cotton. Here is an example of a polyester/cotton blend top we dyed in shibori style. The result is more of a downplayed, faded look instead of super bold, which we think can be super fab on the right garments and depending on the vibe you are going for (think downtown cool). Just make sure your fabric does have a majority of cotton in the blend because 100% polyester won't absorb the dye. To get this look, use strands of string to bind the top half of your shirt using the stripe tie-dye technique, pleating the fabric along the curve of the neckline. Then add dye to only the bound portion of the top. And afterward? The world is your runway in this casual, cool shibori tie-dye look!
