Hello! Let us tell you about the Indigo Dyes Collection, which will be available on our website this Thursday, May 4th at 1PM ET. This collection optimizes leftover fabrics by giving them new life with low-impact indigo dip dye. To achieve this we partnered Green Matters, a small business in Pennsylvania that specializes in natural dye. Each piece is hand dyed with rainwater and pigment made from indigo plant fibers, and is completely one-of-a-kind!

While our team was quality-checking this collection, we noticed that some of the pieces were crocking more than we would like. (Crocking is the term for color transfer that occurs when a dyed item rubs against something.) We gave these pieces an extra wash & dry, which helped a lot! Any crocking that may continue to occur should be minor, and we’ve verified that it washes out easily with a little dish soap and cold water.

All naturally dyed textiles are susceptible to crocking, though we learned that indigo is a little extra susceptible because of the particular way the pigment molecules bind to fiber. But we think it’s more than worth it - both for the special quality that botanical dyes bring to a piece, and because they are so much more sustainable!

Transforming leftover fabric and old clothing with natural dyes is an amazing way to give these items a new life and avoid creating textile waste. And in contrast to water used for synthetic dye production, the water used for botanical dyeing is much safer for the natural ecosystems to which it will inevitably return. Pretty cool! You can read more about this here if you're interested - we highly recommend it. 

Read on for all the details about this special collection! 

Jeremy Owl says his new shirt provides a splendid visual aid for the anatomy of a bean sprout. These tees were made in our Brooklyn workshop from super soft yellow jersey and then dyed by our friends at Green Matters with GOTS certified natural indigo, resulting in a beautiful mossy green color. Hand-stamped with an original bean sprout illustration, it is quite the splendid tee indeed! Fits any Hazel Village doll or animal.

Juliette Rabbit’s dusky blue cardigan keeps her nice and cozy on breezy days. It has a comfy triangle silhouette and ties at the neck in a neat bow. Handmade in our Brooklyn workshop from leftover cotton jersey and dyed by our friends at Green Matters with GOTS certified natural indigo. Fits any Hazel Village doll or animal.

 

Nicholas Bear Cub tells us these overalls have handy big pockets, perfect for when an animal finds a nice dandelion and wants to carry it around but also keep their paws free. Roomy silhouette is great for staying cool in the summer months or layering with a sweater when it gets chilly. Handmade in Peru from sturdy cotton canvas fabric and dyed by our friends at Green Matters with GOTS certified natural indigo. Velcro back closure, overlapping area for your animal's tail to stick out. Fits any Hazel Village doll or animal.

 

 

This apron-style striped pinafore is just the thing to toss on for a day of berry picking or planting in the garden. Handmade with love in our Brooklyn workshop from a hemp/organic cotton canvas - soft yet strong! - and dyed by our friends at Green Matters with GOTS certified natural indigo. Tie back closure. Fits any Hazel Village doll or animal.

 

 

Cute ruffled pantalettes with a subtle floral pattern on the trim at waistband and cuffs. These pantalettes are knee length; at least they would be, if the animals had knees. Velcro back closure, overlapping area for your animal's tail to stick out. Handmade in Colombia and dyed by our friends at Green Matters with GOTS certified natural indigo. Fits any Hazel Village doll or animal.

These cozy sweaters were hand knit by very talented artisans in Peru from the softest 100% alpaca wool. The yarn did not require any processing to achieve this beautiful color - it's all natural, straight from the alpaca's rump! Thanks, alpaca friends. This sweater's toasty beige shade makes the animals think of foraging for tasty mushrooms in the woods. With three working buttons and cute decorative stitching details, it's sure to look wonderful on any Hazel Village doll or animal!

  

 

 

Shop the Indigo Dyes Collection on Thursday, May 4th at 1PM ET!