Plant Dye Practices

The Antipodean eco-conscious label 'we'ar' is harnessing ancient Balinese dying practices to create new season fashion and yoga wear for men and women.

By utilizing eco-dying, the label is tackling an important problem within the fashion industry, and further, making a commitment to sustainability and ensuring that it can't go simply as far as fair trade workers and organic cotton. The dying process should be a major concern for clothing producers on multiple levels, from the toxicity of dyes and its impact on workers and the end users of the garments, right to the trickle-down to environmental concerns surrounding the damage of water supplies.

For we'ar, the eco dying project that the company uses incorporates mango leaves, indigo and this season, a ceylon tea to color their ethically produced, natural fiber clothing line.

Their eco dying story is being discussed within New Zealand's small but diverse fashion industry where other designers such as Miranda Brown are eco-dying textiles using their own methods.