Fresh yet familia

WHEN hippies do tie-dye, they do it loud and proud, and the design is very distinctive. But psychedelic hippies aside, tiedye has been around for a long time — perhaps ever since dyes and fashion were invented.

In Malaysia and Indonesia, tie-dye creates what is called batik pelangi — rainbow batik — that is vibrant and multi-hued.

Japanese tie-dye is called shibori and the patterns created through binding, stitching or folding of cloth come with a precision that the folks there are wellknown for.

Meanwhile, Bandhani cloth from India is recognised by the numerous tiny dots that make up a larger design. The name comes from the Sanskrit word banda, meaning to tie.This modern tie-dye sweater comes courtesy of Californian designer Raquel Allegra. The pattern is fresh, yet familiar, befitting a technique that has been around for as long as human civilisation.