Dyeing
and Printing Methods
We dye, block-print and screen-print our clothing by hand. Each garment
is a unique work of art. Here is some information about the materials
and methods we use.
Our dyes: We use environmentally low-impact, fiber
reactive dyes for long lasting, vivid colors. Fiber Reactive dye
will not wash out; the molecules of the dye combine with the molecules
of the fabric to create a permanent bond, and thus the color becomes
part of the fabric.
Preshrunk and pre-washed: After dyeing our garments,
we wash and dry them in a hot commercial dryer so that they will
be pre shrunk.
Our inks: We use water-based, eco-friendly acrylic
textile inks, which produce a non-fading print that is soft to the
touch. Unlike plastic inks, our inks will not crack or peel.
"What
is crinkle-dyed?"
We use a random dye method, immersing our clothing
in a fiber reactive dye bath, which we fix with soda ash so that
the garments become colorfast. This method produces random patterns
by the way the garments are arranged in the dye bath. The results
are more subtle than most multicolor tie-dyes, and the soft, textured
look becomes a perfect background for our designs.
What
is Block-printing?
We have our artwork made into blocks, which we use to block print
our designs onto our garments, making each one a unique work of
art. Here is a definition of block printing from ArtLex.com:
Block printing: Printing methods in which a block
of wood, linoleum or some other material's surface is carved so
that an image can be printed from it — uncarved areas receiving
ink which transfers to another surface when the block is pressed
against it. Also known as relief printing. (Retrieved from the World
Wide Web on September 5, 2005 http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/Bj.html#anchor1530603)
What is Screenprinting?
(Silkscreening)
Silkscreening or screen-printing:
a stencil process of printmaking in which an image is imposed on
a screen of silk or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with
an impermeable substance, and ink is forced through the mesh onto
the printing surface. Also called serigraphy and screen-printing.
Andy Warhol and Robert Raushenberg used silkscreens as a means of
applying paint to canvases. Also, a print made by this method, sometimes
called a screenprint. (Retrieved from the World Wide Web on September
5, 2005 http://www.artlex.com)
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