FAQs
How do I care for a naturally dyed item?
Spot clean carefully as needed, only in affected area. Here are some tips:
- To best preserve color while cleaning, use a pH neutral soap like Woolite, Dropps or diluted Dr. Bronners and rinse with cool water, hang dry or tumble dry low heat. Do not use bleach, Oxyclean, standard detergents (Tide), dish soaps or products containing phthalates or sulfites as they may alter or fade the color)
- Do not dry clean naturally dyed products. It may alter the color.
- If the material wrinkles, the best method is to hang it up in a humid room (like the bathroom while a hot shower is running) and the wrinkles should release on their own. If they persist, a medium temp iron or a gentle steamer will work.
- Avoid allowing the material to come in contact with anything acidic (citrus, vinegar, wine, perfume etc) as this will potentially shift the colors.
- Store away from direct sunlight to avoid fading over time. Also, It’s best to store silk and scarves loosely rolled or hung vs folded in a so they don’t develop permanent creases.
Which items can I have custom dyed?
Most any item can be dyed, but if you want it NATURALLY dyed using botanical and floral pigments that do not cause harm to you, me, the earth and water supply, the item needs to also come from nature or the color will not take.
Naturally dyed items must be at minimum 80% natural fibers (like cotton, silk, hemp, linen, rayon, bamboo, viscose, ramie, flax or wool). An item's ability to be dyed should be verified by Zoe BEFORE purchasing for a custom order for fiber content and it's ability to hold up during the dye process.
Polyester, acrylic, nylon, lycra and polyacrylic can't be dyed naturally. These will need a separate dye process with more chemicals and water usage. I do dye items of this sort, but am working to become a cleaner and more sustainable brand and am phasing them out unless its a custom order only. I do not use neon dyes, these are the most toxic. Please reach out via the custom order form with any questions.
How is your brand sustainable?
As a small business, I have a lot of opportunities to keep things clean and green! Custom dye orders can take a lot of water, heat and resources to complete, but I am extremely passionate about not causing more harm to the already fragile ecosystem we live in. I choose to use natural pigments found in nature, and source them locally whenever possible. Some of the onion and avocado skins I use for golds and pinks are from a Mexican restaurant down the street. I work with local gardens to reuse their fallen blooms, and am working towards recycling my dye material waste with them into compost to feed the soil. I believe in a symbiotic relationship with the earth and that the process is just as important than the result. Most of the garments you see for sale on the site are thrifted or up cycled (with exceptions to socks/ undergarments) and anything bought new is purchased with a company that upholds my values.
I also recycle many materials like boxes, wrapping paper and box filling when packing your orders. You'd never know it was reused, but the earth will! I also use poly bags to pack many of your smaller orders; These were donated to me by another small business owner who no longer wanted them. Plastic isn't my first choice, but giving it a slightly longer life than it would have if it was tossed out is better than nothing.
How do I fold my Packable Totes?
Please download a simple tutorial here that guides you through the folding process that makes this packable bag a breeze to take anywhere and have on you at all times. It is a free download with no checkout necessary
