When did tie dye start to be a popular hippie fashion?

Discussion in 'Clothes' started by Matt1979, Jul 28, 2024.

  1. Matt1979

    Matt1979 Senior Member

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    I have worn tie dye T shirts regularly for years in the summer and I was thinking about how long tie dye has been popular. From all the photos I've seen of late 60s hippies tie dye didn't seem to be around then, or I haven't seen anyone in tie dye clothes from that period.

    Sadly, tie dye can often be associated with hippies in a stereotyped way as well, all those crap looking fancy dress "hippie" costumes have tacky versions of tie dye tops and shirts
     
    Matt1979, Jul 28, 2024
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  3. wilsjane

    wilsjane Nutty Professor HipForums Supporter

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    It probably originated from the time when hippies started jumping into fountains in their spare time.
    Trafalgar Square in London was endless fun in the 60's. :):):)
     
    wilsjane, Jul 28, 2024
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  5. MeAgain

    MeAgain Dazed & Confused Lifetime Supporter Super Moderator

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    Tie dyeing is an old technique dating back to the 5th century China.

    Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters claim they introduced it in 1964 when they took LSD and then poured model airplane paint into a pond and then dunked their shirts into it.
    Janis Joplin and John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful popularized it. Sebastian dyed his own shirts.
     
    MeAgain, Jul 28, 2024
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  7. Matt1979

    Matt1979 Senior Member

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    I haven't seen any photos of Janis Joplin or John Sebastian in tie dye, this is interesting
     
    Matt1979, Jul 28, 2024
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  9. jimandjan

    jimandjan Member

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    My first thought would be the Grateful Dead, But back in the day about all old rockers probably wore tie dye some time, and their fans.
     
    jimandjan, Jul 28, 2024
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  11. MeAgain

    MeAgain Dazed & Confused Lifetime Supporter Super Moderator

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    upload_2024-7-28_15-35-50.jpeg ​

    upload_2024-7-28_15-36-31.jpeg ​
     
    MeAgain, Jul 28, 2024
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  13. Matt1979

    Matt1979 Senior Member

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    Thanks, they're great images. Janis's tie dye is colourful especially
     
    Matt1979, Jul 29, 2024
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  15. skip

    skip Founder Administrator

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    John Sebastian wore tie-dye at Woodstock and that is when it really caught on. The movie helped too.
     
    skip, Jul 30, 2024
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  17. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    IMG_0371.jpeg

    It’s definitely evolved!

    resist dye exists in most cultures, and has predates the common era. in “modern” Western culture, there are references to it in the USA from the 1920s (Truman Capote’s A Christmas Story).

    My first personal reference book with tie dye instructions was the Woodstock Craftsman’s Manual, from 1974.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2024
    drumminmama, Aug 3, 2024
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  19. Matt1979

    Matt1979 Senior Member

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    This is fascinating and I had no idea tie dyeing happened in the 1920s. Don't you think tie dye clothes can sadly be stereotyped sometimes, like with those tacky "hippie fancy dress" costumes I mentioned? They give a very generalised image of what hippies looked like
     
    Matt1979, Aug 11, 2024
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  21. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    Resist dyes go back to BCE.

    yeah, there’s schlocky hippie flash dyes. But there’s a resurgence with ice dyeing, and glitch, and Paul Kenney’s zillion medallion dyes.
     
    drumminmama, Aug 11, 2024
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