Have you ever seen the color of a remote Utopia?
I discovered a heavenly blue color palette inspired by the tie-dye craftsmanship in Dali, Yunnan—the medieval capital of the Bai Kingdom Nanzhao and the Kingdom of Dali, and now a remote utopia town in the Yunnan province of China.
The ancient town of Dali always evokes a peaceful and poetic life — an ideal paradise on earth that is isolated from the hustle and bustle, with beautiful and pastoral scenery, and everlasting spring and flowers.
If you think there are only two types of blue—light sky blue or dark ocean blue—think again. I assure you that Dali boasts the most beautiful blue color patterns found nowhere else on the planet. Here’s what a family-owned tie-dye shop looks like in Dali:
These are the beautiful, age-old tie-dye shops in Dali, where the technique has been passed down through generations.
When I took a vacation in Dali, the local artisan granny taught me how to make a very simple tie-dye scarf, and it turned out to be amazing!
In Dali city, there are numerous family-operated shops that offer tourists the opportunity to participate in the creation of tie-dye scarves, dresses, or T-shirts. Visitors can select patterns from a pre-selected collection (such as constellation signs, zodiac signs, plants, animals etc), and local artisans will guide them through the process of folding, twisting, and dyeing the fabric. The entire experience typically lasts around 20 minutes.
The cool thing is that each pattern is unique because the dying process is somewhat random, unlike computer-printed patterns, which attracted many tourists looking for a personalized way to express themselves.
The tie-dye craftsmanship
The "tie-dye" in Dali is known as 扎染 “Zha Ran” in Chinese. It is an ancient and traditional fabric dyeing technique prevalent in Yunnan province. This technique involves folding, twisting, pleating, or crumpling cloth and binding it with string or rubber bands before applying dye(s).
In Dali, you can find "Zha Ran" shops scattered everywhere, most of which are owned by individual families. Traditional tie-dye techniques involve the use of “Indigo root” (the root of the Isatis tinctoria plants) as a dye. Indigo root is commonly used in Chinese medicine to treat colds and flu, but when used as a dye, it produces a natural indigo or bluish-green color. Due to the purely natural processing methods of traditional tie-dye fabric, it is highly favored by advocates of nature, those who prefer skin-friendly materials, and those who prioritize their health.
This is me wearing the Dali tie-dye shawls I made myself, walking down a street in Dali. It's the perfect way to showcase a bold and free fashion statement!
You can watch how I made my own tie-dye scarf here!
Tie-dye as a timeless art
Apart from simple things you can make as a tourist, traditional Yunnan tie-dye offers a wide range of possibilities. Artisans can meticulously create intricate and precise patterns and artwork, with years of training and practice of course. Many families dedicated their entire lives to the tie-dye technique in order to achieve such virtuosity. Many of these patterns can be seen in museums or purchased at premium prices in the art market.
Looking to add a touch of bold blue to your wardrobe? Consider a handmade shawl from the artisans in Dali. Each purchase not only adds a unique piece to your collection but also contributes to sustaining the cultural legacy of Dali’s artisans.
