Tie dye may have been the buzzword of 2020, but from baby onesies to luxe cashmere, the idea of hand-dyed clothing is more classic style than one-off trend. So, while tie-dyed sweat sets may be going the way of quarantine (fingers crossed!), hand-dyeing techniques continue to evolve and find a place in our everyday wardrobes.

As the founder and owner of Live & Let Dye, dyeing has been my business since 2019, but it’s been my passion for much longer. Here are three ways I see tie dye evolving over the coming season.

1. Paint it Black. Where rainbow spirals can sometimes call to mind campfires or music festivals, the addition of a splash of black (known as a “spider dye”) modernizes traditional tie dye, not only making it an instant neutral (tip: it looks amazing paired with camo or an army pant) but elevating it from backyard project to boutique find. (It also happens to be our bestseller.)
2. Put It On Ice. Ice dyeing, a technique in which pigmented powder is placed on top of slowly melting ice, takes hand dyeing to a new level, creating trippy—and beautiful—patterns and colors that are created as the ice melts and colors within the powders “split” into new shades. Reminiscent of pattern-and color-clashing iconic brands like Missoni and 70s-era Biba, ice-dyed sweatshirts and tees can be easily dressed up or down and be as bold or as neutral as the colors used. Not to mention they fit in perfectly with Fall’s saturated color trends and eclectic styling.
3. Stand Out From The Crowd. At heart, fabric dyeing is an art form. And while mass-produced tie dye can be beautiful, there’s something special about owning a one-of-a-kind sweatshirt or tee. Shopping small, from dye artists who put time, thought and their unique creative spin into their work, turns a regular hoodie into a piece of wearable art.