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The History of Tie-Dyed T-Shirts
by
The Sider Group
When people think of tie-dye t-shirts, they think of Woodstock, hippies, Joe Cocker, John Sebastian, and all those cool cats. Today, tie-dye t-shirts are very popular and they are worn by people in different parts of the world. Have you ever wondered about the origins of these colorful shirts?
According to historical records, the technique of tie-dye was first used in China and Japan. During the T ang dynasty from 618 to 906 C.E., the Chinese were using tie-dye and the Japanese were also using this technique during the Nara period from 552 to 794 C.E. The dyes were derived from natural elements like roots, marigold, indigo, sage, lichen, onion, blackberries, berries, and flowers. The process of color extraction was quite simple. To extract the colors, the items would be placed in boiling water until the water became a dye. After that, the cloth would be dipped into the dye so that the color can seep into the cloth.
In Japan, the technique was further refined with the invention of tsujigahana, which was a new type of tie-dye. This happened around 1568 to 1603 during the Momoyama period. In this process, a type of Chinese ink known as sumi was used in combination with the tie-dye. Basically, sumi would be used to draw or sketch images on the cloth pieces. After the ink dried, the garments would then be dipped into the dye. At the end of the tie-dye process, the fabric would take on the color of the dye and the images would be made darker, giving them a special aesthetic quality. Today, garments made with this technique are regarded as prized possessions.
The technique of tie-dye was introduced to the United States during the Roaring 20s and the Great Depression in the 1920s and 1930s. The Roaring 20s was a great period, and people were generally happy to try new things. Through pamphlets, people learned about the various ways to design clothes and decorate their homes by using tie-dye. These lessons would be very useful during the Great Depression because people could use sugar sacks, coffee, and old cotton flour to make their own home decorations or clothes.
When the 1960s rolled along, tie-dye t-shirts became all the rage. With millions of hippies, suddenly, Americans were seeing tie-dye t-shirts everywhere. The hippie lifestyle was based on themes of self-expression, individuality, and community. Tie-dye t-shirts were the perfect representation of these ideals because they could make their very own unique t-shirts without spending a lot of money, and at the same time, they are united because the simple act of wearing a tie-dye t-shirt meant that they belonged to the hippie nation. As the hippies made their way to Woodstock in 1969, the world saw the glory of the tie-dye, culminating in a grand kaleidoscope of colors.
In the 1980s, tie-dye shirts were very popular because some designers were reviving the look. Modern tie-dye t-shirts are made from superior paints and dyes which are more long-lasting than the earlier ones. Today, tie-dye t-shirts are still popular though they cannot approach the popularity of yesteryears.
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