The Process of Mudmee Tie Dye
Mudmee is a tie dye technique that is native to Thailand and Laos. While specific details of the technique are kept secret to preserve the culture and practice, we can let you in on a few of the basics...
Mudmee patterns are known for gorgeous starbursts and rich, vibrant colors. The dyeing process is always done on black or pigmented fabric, unlike tie dye of the hippie era where white fabric was dyed. Rich base colors make for dramatic patterns in each of these unique hand made products.
Let us introduce you to our friends!
This is Pae, his lovely family, and ours! Like Mexicali Blues, Pae’s mudmee operation is family-run, and everything is done with a fun and kind attitude that we love! Pae oversees everything that his team creates but that doesn’t stop him from getting his hands dirty (or dyed) and getting down to business.
Juan is in charge of patterns, the most important aspect of the detailed process. He ensures the garment templates are arranged properly in order to not waste a single inch of fabric.
Once the pattern is in place, Juan and his team cut through multiple layers of fabric at once. Their expertise ensure each piece comes out just right.
After each piece of clothing is assembled, it is Mr Boom's job to dye it. As the Spiral Master of Mudmee, he carefully bunches, folds, and bands every item before applying the dye by hand. Years of experience allow him to recreate wild tie dye designs we all associate with Mudmee.
We may not know all the secrets, but we do know there's a lot of happiness involved in this work! This attitude is just one aspect of why we love working with our vendors. We have a tried and true approach for deciding who we support and that's our "working with people who smile" philosophy! Below are just a few members of Mr. Boom’s team of skilled Mudmee Masters.
The next step allows the dye to set and soak into the fibers. Once the fibers are thoroughly pigmented, each design is unbound and hung to dry. This is our favorite time because the pigments are at their most saturated and we get to soak in the rows of pretty colors!
After drying, each item is inspected for quality control. The team works together looking for any imperfections on each garment just to make sure they are of the best quality. All those bags that are piled up in the background below are the completed orders waiting to be sent to Mexicali Blues!
