Go with the flow

Brazilian-born sewing blogger, Rachel Pinheiro shows off her free-spirit with a modern take using tie-dye fabric and a simple but stylish slip dress!

FASHION ARCHIVE: TIE-DYE SLIP DRESS

If you’re feeling you’ve travelled back in time to the ’90s with slip dresses popping up in fashion magazines and social media - I can reassure you, we are just experiencing a new interpretation of a garment that actually has its beginnings in the Middle Ages. This simple straight design has fallen in and out of use until fashion nostalgia of inner wear as outwear brought it back!

Talking about long history – the process of tie-dye dates back as far as 6000 BC. The folding, twisting, pleating, or crumpling fabric to create beautiful patterns when dyed is an ancient art practised across continents and cultures. With our times going through a mood transformation not dissimilar to the late ’60s and ’70s, tie-dye is once again prominent in people’s psyches. There is a collective feeling of excitement to come out of a long period of isolation and the effects of the pandemic, and tie-dye conveys an image of change and optimism!

FUN FACT:

Tie-dye is called different things in different cultures and countries: Japan – shibori India – bandhani or leheriya Indonesia – plangi or tritik Nigeria – adire Peru – amarra China – zha ran Portuguese, we use the English word – tie-dye!

PATTERN CHOICE

I decided to make the Saltwater Slip from the Friday Pattern Company. This simple slip dress has adjustable straps and is a lovely tea-length with side slits. I made size M but I probably could have made size S as I found the ease generous. I made my own loops instead of using lingerie fittings too.

The Saltwater Slip by Friday Pattern Co

HOW I’M GOING TO WEAR IT

I needed a beach cover up and this combo of fabric and pattern was just perfect. I got to wear it on a girl’s weekend spa trip to Ragdale Hall, Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.

To make it modern in style, I wore sneakers instead of sandals or flip-flops.

Rachel Pinheiro

EDITORS NOTES

THE PATTERN:

The pull-on Saltwater Slip can be layered or worn on its own. The pattern comes with two length options: above the knee, and tea length with side slits. It also comes with optional side ties to add a bit of waist shaping. Wear this slip over a tee shirt, under a sheer dress, or on its own! The pattern comes in sizes XS-7X and includes multiple cup size options (B/C and C/D). View this pattern and others from Friday Pattern Company here – https://hantex.page.link/fpcs

THE FABRIC:

Rachel used the traditional navy tie-dye Double Gauze from the Sibu collection from Modelo Fabrics to make her dress. This Oeko-tex certified double gauze fabric is available in two other colourways – ochre and rust. View more double gauze fabrics from the Sibu collection from Modelo here – https://hantex.page.link/mfdg