Summer fashion trend 2019: tie-dye is back!
When it comes to tie-dye, you are either a lover or a hater. Well, the hippie, '70s fashion trend is back for summer 2019 and we're loving it!
Tie-dye often brings to mind art and crafts, or DIY projects at home with parents and siblings. On a bigger scale, it was a hippie uniform for festival goers that defined the '60s and '70s. Clothing covered in swirling, marbled colors encapsulated all that was care-free. Models Kaia Gerber, Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner have helped secure the return of this summer fashion trend for 2019 by styling the fun patterns into their everyday wardrobes. The high street has followed demand and copies of the runway trend, seen in the womenswear collections at Gucci, Prada, R13 and Stella McCartney, are already being sold.
This time round designers are deliberately pointing to organic and sustainable clothing, more tailored and contemporary, but still with the original bohemian feel and sense of nostalgia. T-shirts are a key piece for this summer; bright and vibrant at R13 and oversized in pastel colors at Stella McCartney, both offering a cool 'surfer girl' vibe. Alternatively, Prada and Gucci elevated the trend with the use of feminine silhouettes and refined fabrics, such as A-line skirts and satin, adding to tie-dye's newfound luxury.
Many designers, such as Chris Leba of R13, believe that the return of tie-dye is a reflection of the times we are living in. A representation of freedom and hope and the nonuniform aspect of tie-dye's appeal conveys the idea of our present uncertainty, let alone the unknown future. What is certain however, is using tie-dye as a way to show off your individuality. In fashion, where variation can be somewhat limited when a trend gets going, tie-dye gives off the impression of being 'unique' and 'home-crafted'. As more and more fashion brands turn away from real fur and look to sustainable manufacturing, tie-dye has long standing associations with artisanal methods, organic fabrics and natural dyes. It is therefore, a trend that should help re-generate changes to the fashion industry.
So, one question remains. How should you wear it and wear it well? Being a symbol of individualism and expressionism, tie-dye has no rules, so wear it any way you want to! If you need some pointers though, you could try an oversized tie-dye tee with cycling shorts (another key trend for S/S19), or match a tie-dye skirt with a bodysuit. You'll soon be a tie-dye lover if you weren't already!
