When Was Tie Dye Invented? You Would be Surprised

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Tie dye, the art of dyeing fabric with whatever you’ve got on hand after tying it into a knot, is more than just a fun way to spend your afternoon. It’s also the coolest history lesson you could ever ask for! Tying into a knot is just one of the methods used; the patterns that we identify with tie dye were and are achieved with a number of processes such as folding or scrunching the material before securing with some kind of band or string.

But do you know when tie dye first appeared?

Tie dye has been around for a long, long time. Some records even suggest evidence of tie dyeing dating back to many years BC. More recently, we can find evidence of its use in the 1800s, when it was used as a way to create colorful fabrics and eye-catching clothing. Natural dyes were used, dyes such as cactus juice or bark from trees, among others. These natural products were employed to create fabulous patterns.

Fast forward to the 1960s and ’70s, we find tie dye’s popularity exploding thanks in part to hippies who loved its bright colors. Today, I think we are seeing a resurgence in its popularity, both with respect to homemade tie dyed fabrics and commercially available products.