info_the-dyeing-process_www.chameleoncreations.co.uk

About us...

Chameleon was formed after looking for tie-dye clothing and finding that the styles and colours available were very limited and not very individual in style. After much experimentation and fun came t-shirts that I was happy to make and wear. This extended to other ranges of clothing, such as skirts and trousers. I then decided that bags would be a good idea as plastic bags are a major threat to the enviroment.

I am constantly on the look out for new products to add to the website and regard customer's feedback as very important to creating a friendly and efficient service to ensure that each customer is treated as an individual.

We are completely dedicated to your total satisfaction. If you have any suggestions, comments, complaints or questions, please email

chameleoncreations@hotmail.co.uk

All communications are dealt with usually within the same day but no longer than two working days.

Shipping And Handling...

Items are normally despatched within five working days if available, using first class post, we always aim for a faster delivery but this depends on your method of payment and if items are ready dyed.

Please allow longer for custom dyeing. This service may take longer depending on whether or not items are in stock. Please allow 7-14 days for these items

Making A Purchase...

Just browse the site, choose the item - make a note of it's description and/or catalogue number then contact us by email to check availability and price including postage.

Cancellation and returns

If you wish to cancel your order before despatch, please email within 12 hours of placing your order. Goods may also be returned within seven days of receipt for any reason providing they are unworn and with all labels intact (you will need to pay the return carriage costs). Your statutory rights are not affected in any way.
Please note - underwear and jewellery cannot be exchanged.

Security...

We do not disclose buyers email information or any other details to third parties.

Products...

There are different ranges for different tastes whether you prefer a one-colour design or a vibrant mix of colours. No two items are identical as it is virtually impossible to duplicate a design exactly.

Please check availability of an item before ordering, as each item is unique and when sold will be removed from the site as soon as possible.

All tie dye items are 100% cotton unless otherwise stated.

All colours are represented as close to reality as possible but may vary slightly to the colours viewed on screen.

Contacting Us...

If you need to contact us - please email chameleoncreations@hotmail.co.uk
This is the best method of contact as I cannot always answer the phone during the dyeing process

alternatively, you can telephone 07792 706440
or write to us at
Chameleon
PO Box 34
Kilgetty
SA68 0WZ

Remittance Terms...

.Sorry, but we can only despatch goods when payment has cleared

The Tie Dye process

Multi colour dyed designs

Each item is pre washed before the dyeing process to allow the dye to penetrate the fibres. It is then soaked in soda ash to enable the penetration of dye into the fabric. The item is then hand tied. The purpose of ties is to prevent dye from reaching these areas of fabric which once untied will result in the unique patterns which is tie dye. Dye is then applied to each section using different coloured dyes which in turn blend into each other -ie blue next to yellow will produce green.

The dyed items are then put into plastic bags (the bags i wash and reuse over and over again) which produces heat to speed up the chemical process. They are left for about 24 hours the ties are then removed and they are then washed in non-biological liquid.

One colour dyes

The item to be dyed is tied depending on which pattern is to be achieved. this can involve pleating, folding the fabric. It is then immersersed into the dye solution. Afterwards it is removed from the dye and the ties untied and washed in non biological liquid.

Natural Dyes - Indigo

The items need to be scoured before dyeing, which is a process to remove finnishes and chemical treatments applied to new textiles, by disolving washing soda in boiling water. Indigo is then ground up and made into a paste with a little bit of boiling water. The indigo is added to the washing soda until it reaches 120 degrees Farenheight. The colour gradually changes from blue to a green.

At this stage the items are immersed into the dye and continually squeezed to ensure that the dye penetrates it evenly. This can take between five and fifteen minutes.

When the item is removed from the dye it is a greenish yellow colour but after contact with the air oxidization takes place and it will magically change from green to blue.

The great thing about Indigo is that you can repeat the dippings to achieve depper darker shades of blue.

washing instructions

I recommend using a non-biological liquid/powder and washing at 40 degrees in a washing machine. The economy/quickwash programme is best. It is best to avoid hanging out tie dyes in the very hot summer sun in to avoid fading.

The history of tie dye

The origins of tie dye remains a mystery, it seems that there is no one place that it is responsible for the colourful textile decoration that has become so popular over the centuries. It has been a popular through many cultures particulary in Indonesia, India, Asia, Peru Africa, and Japan in its early days.

The craft of tie dyeing has been recorded as dating back to the sixth and seventh centuries A.D. At this time it was very popular in Japan and India. There has been evidence of tie and dye clothing found in the tombs of the ancient Incas from peru which suggests that this craft was very popular during the fifteenth century.

Tie and dye was known as "bandhana" in India named after the girls "bandhani" whom tied the fabric

Shibori is the japanese method of tie dye which involves twisting, spotting, sewing and using rope to achieve the unique patterns on cotton and silk fabrics.

During the T'ang destiny of 618-906 AD in China and the Nara period of 552-794A.D. Tie dye was used to decorate their silk and hemp textiles.

In Nigeria natural dye such as Indigo was used to dye cotton fabrics while silk was dyed in multi colour dyes.

During the 13th century peasants would dress in tie dye clothing, they could express themselves through their clothing as with tie dye the results are impossible to replicate.

During the sixties and early seventies a huge revival for tie dye emerged which fitted in with the individual free loving hippy lifestyle Tie dye sheets were used as backdrops for rock cocerts. Since then it has had many revivals during the 1970's 1980's 1990's and more recently in 2005.

Today it is popular throughout the world as a way of expressing individualism for people of any age.

Natural Dyes

The dyes used in these early days were natural dyes derived from plants e.g. indigo and insects cochineal from crushed beetles.

Purple dye which was extracted from the purpura mollusk which was simlar to Indigo in that it oxidized when in contact with the air. The process was a difficult and timely one and was only used to dye luxury garments such as robes and cloaks and was associated with aristocracy and royalty.

The nineteenth century brought a big change to dyeing methods with the introduction of chemical dyes. These dyes were less time consuming to use and produced dyes that did not fade with exposure to sunlight. These dyes were available all year round and were cheaper to produce. There was a larger range of colours which were more vibrant and colour fast.

Today procion dye dye is widely used for the rainbow of colours it . It is kinder to the enviroment than a lot of Natural dyes as they rely on Mordants to fix the dye which can be toxic to water supplies such as tin, alum and chronium.

The effect of these dyes on the enviroment is minimal, evidence has shown that have low toxity levels to fish and other aqatic lifeforms and tend not to bioaccumulate over time. The amount of dye found in rivers and sewers is insignificant when compared to what the is discharged from the average home each day e.g. bleach, toilet flush blocks, fabric softeners, to mention a few.

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