Hi! Thanks for being here! My name is Chelsea Thompson and Earthencolor is my way of exploring and strengthening a relationship with the natural world. I grew up on a farm spending the majority of my days outside, so when I was introduced to the art of plant dyes something clicked for me.
This brand is a project that was dreamt up in 2016 while finishing my degree in Fibers at Savannah College of Art and Design. In addition to an appreciation for color and texture, I have always been interested in the art of personal style and wanted to create pieces that have meaning to the wearer and a life beyond what is currently in "fashion". I design and sew the majority of what you see in the shop; my goal is to create work that has a timeless style that can be worn and loved by various bodies. As a part of my ethos in using natural dyes, I believe that the colors processed from plants are synonymous to a life harmonious with the outdoors; each color yielded is unique in a life and story of its own, continuous of its former physical state.
Working with dyes derived from plant, insects, and minerals is about celebrating the slow process; it is not about instant gratification or mass production. Some colors can take days to develop and may still vary despite following recipes. The unplanned often leads to exciting discoveries. Through an organic way of working, there is room for experiments and imperfections - who wants to be perfect anyways? The subtle variations seen in nature are in a way echoed through this slow process.
Dyes are sourced as locally as possible through responsible foraging, repurposing waste, and harvesting garden grown dye plants. All other dyes that are used come from reliable sources. Every Earthencolor piece is hand dyed with careful consideration to both the dye material and the end use of the fabric.
In using natural dyes, Earthencolor hopes to bring a little bit of that outdoor light in so you can feel the magic of the sunshine even on the cloudiest day
While using plant based dye aligns with sustainable and eco friendly values, Earthencolor also aims to employ zero waste practices whenever possible. Many of the offerings available in the shop such as the scrunchies and ribbons are made from fabric scraps. An ongoing "scrap work" series uses reimagined remnants to make true one of a kind wares in the spirit of the sentiment that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.