The Enduring Appeal of Tie-Dye

Tie-dye is back, and in a big way. From ancient origins to the spring runway, here’s everything you need to know about one of 2021’s top trends.

The Basics

Tie-dye is a method used to dye fabric or clothing, creating colorful, one-of-a-kind patterns.

To tie-dye a piece of clothing, you simply tie, twist or fold fabric with thread, string or rubber bands. The manipulations you create with the fabric are sometimes referred to as resists, as those sections resist being stained by the dye. Once the fabric has been manipulated, you can submerge it into one or more shades of dye. Once it dries, you untie the resists to reveal a beautiful pattern.

Ancient Origins

While the phrase “tie-dye” is a modern invention, the technique itself isn’t new at all.

In 6th Century China, craftspeople of the Tang Dynasty would create dyes by boiling berries, roots and various types of flowers in hot water. They would then soak fabric or pieces of clothing in the bright dye to create beautiful patterns.

In 6th Century India, craftspeople tied up pieces of cloth with thread to produce various patterns before submerging the clothing into dye. Depending on how intricate of a pattern they were making, this process was sometimes repeated several times.

Reduce, Reuse, Tie-Dye

The tie-dye technique, as it would later be called, didn’t appear in the United States until the late 1920s. During the Great Depression, most people in the United States didn’t have the disposable income to purchase new clothing and home decor. That’s why the government began distributing pamphlets that introduced the concept of tie-dying to brighten up secondhand fabrics.

Americans quickly embraced this new (and affordable) method of making old things new. They were able to create homemade dye from various plants and berries. The newly dyed cloth, often made from old flour sacks, was used to create everything from dresses to tablecloths.

1960s Hippie Culture

When most people think of tie-dye, they immediately picture 1960s “hippie” culture, and with good reason. During these years, tie-dyed T-shirts became the uniform of the rebellious (and youthful) counterculture. The unique patterns perfectly represented individuality and freedom from the establishment.

As with most edgy trends, tie-dye eventually trickled down to the mainstream. It became more accessible when stores began selling pre-made tie-dye kits people could use at home. Over the years, it became known more as a fun craft than a sophisticated fashion statement.

A New Day for Tie-Dye

Fast forward to the past few years. As looser-fitting, oversized clothing regained popularity, it’s no surprise that the relaxed appeal of tie-dye started to re-emerge as well.

In 2019, Vogue named tie-dye the “unofficial symbol of chill.” From two-piece lounge sets to sleek sweatshirts, you can find tie-dye everywhere from the streets to the runway.

It was recently listed in Harper Bazaar’s “12 Standout Trends from the Spring 2021 Runways to Shop Now” as “decidedly bougie.” There’s no doubt about it – tie-dye is here to stay.

Stay on Trend This Spring

Looking to incorporate the tie-dye trend in 2021 but not sure where to start? We’ve got a few ideas.

Full Press Apparel can create beautiful tie-dyed shirts, tanks and sweatshirts. We even offer custom tie-dye, which means we can create unique T-shirts in your business or organization’s colors.
Some fun ideas for Spring 2021 include: