Sarah B <p><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zlu0OF3Q2fo/ScAO5i-NPYI/AAAAAAAAAmk/7mDcJITx-Vo/s144/asklogochestnut.png" /></p> <p>As our logo suggests, we pride ourselves on having the ability to intimately watch our production process to ensure sustainability from seed to shirt to sale. We even grow a lot of our own dye plants locally in Nashville!</p> <p>Numbered list of dye steps:<br />1)Preparing the Garment. Each garment must go through an intensive washing process to remove any particles that might prevent the dye from attaching to the fibers. <br />2) Mordanting the garment. We soak the garment in alum, which is attracted to both the garment fibers and the dye. It acts as the Velcro between the fiber and dye.<br />3) Dyeing the garment. We prepare <a href="/pages/natural-dye-plants">dye pigments</a> with water and a variety of natural dyestuffs (from plants, seeds, and earth oxides), some of which we grow and source from small sustainable farmers locally. <br />4) Printing the garment. Whether we silkscreen or hand-paint, we take the utmost care in applying the design to the garment. You can follow the links below to find out more on the different processes and some of their steps. <br />5)Steam-setting. We use steam to further set the designs. We want to make sure your garment always looks the same as the day you bought it!</p> <p>Links:<br /><a href="/pages/natural-dye-plants">Dye Plants information</a><br /><a href="/pages/indigo-processing">Indigo Process</a><br /><a href="/pages/mordanting">Mordanting</a><br /><a href="/pages/surface-design">Surface Designing</a> &#8211; Katazome handpainting, block print and Silkscreening</p> 2006-10-15T13:33:48-05:00 our-process 13521 2006-10-15T13:33:48-05:00 10301 2009-03-17T16:04:09-05:00 <img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zlu0OF3Q2fo/ScAO5i-NPYI/AAAAAAAAAmk/7mDcJITx-Vo/s144/asklogochestnut.png" /> As our logo suggests, we pride ourselves on having the ability to intimately watch our production process to ensure sustainability from seed to shirt to sale. We even grow a lot of our own dye plants locally in Nashville! Numbered list of dye steps: 1)Preparing the Garment. Each garment must go through an intensive washing process to remove any particles that might prevent the dye from attaching to the fibers. 2) Mordanting the garment. We soak the garment in alum, which is attracted to both the garment fibers and the dye. It acts as the Velcro between the fiber and dye. 3) Dyeing the garment. We prepare "dye pigments":/pages/natural-dye-plants with water and a variety of natural dyestuffs (from plants, seeds, and earth oxides), some of which we grow and source from small sustainable farmers locally. 4) Printing the garment. Whether we silkscreen or hand-paint, we take the utmost care in applying the design to the garment. You can follow the links below to find out more on the different processes and some of their steps. 5)Steam-setting. We use steam to further set the designs. We want to make sure your garment always looks the same as the day you bought it! Links: "Dye Plants information":/pages/natural-dye-plants "Indigo Process":/pages/indigo-processing "Mordanting":/pages/mordanting "Surface Designing":/pages/surface-design - Katazome handpainting, block print and Silkscreening