The Story Behind Our Revolutionary Dye Method
This resource unpacks the roots of dyeing culture, the science behind our method, and how you can join the movement—one dash at a time.
What Is Dash Dyeing?
Dash dyeing is a next-generation upcycling method developed by More ∞ Joy. It uses highly concentrated Procion MX cold water dyes mixed with a carefully balanced activator, allowing bold, abstract designs with less dye, less waste, and more meaning.
Unlike traditional tie-dyeing, dash-dyeing is expressive, intuitive, and movement-based. It’s about feeling your way through color—pouring pigment with intention and surrender, letting gravity, wind, and water collaborate with you.
We say: less measuring, more meaning.
At the heart of dash dyeing is the belief that color is healing and that transformation can be spontaneous, messy, and beautiful. You don’t need to plan every step—you just need to show up and let the pigment speak.
A Legacy of Textile Transformation
The art of transforming textiles is ancient and cross-cultural. From religious rituals to revolutionary movements, humans have long used color to communicate identity, emotion, and belonging.
🌾 Ancient Egypt
Egyptians pioneered dyeing with plant-based materials like indigo, madder root, and saffron. Dyed linens represented wealth, status, and spirituality. These early techniques reflected artistry and intention—each color held meaning and was often reserved for sacred use.
🇯🇵 Shibori in Japan
Shibori, which originated in the 8th century, is a Japanese dyeing technique that uses folding, binding, and compressing to create stunning patterns. In a time when resources were scarce, people learned to use creativity and constraint to turn necessity into art.
🌸 The Hippy Movement
In the 1960s, tie-dye symbolized rebellion, freedom, and self-expression. The accessibility of Procion MX dyes empowered young people to dye clothes at home, sparking a visual movement that still resonates today.
♻️ Modern Upcycling
Now, the textile industry is reckoning with its environmental cost. Fast fashion has created waste and exploitation. Upcycling offers an antidote: creative reuse that values what already exists. More ∞ Joy sits at this intersection—fusing the emotionality of tie-dye with the mindfulness of sustainable fashion.
Dash dyeing reclaims this legacy for a new era.
The Chemistry Behind Dash Dyeing
Dash dyeing isn’t just beautiful—it’s brilliant science. Let’s break down why it works:
- Procion MX Dyes are fiber-reactive dyes, which chemically bond with plant-based fibers like cotton and rayon.
- Cold Water Activation reduces the need for heat, lowering environmental impact.
- Covalent Bonding creates durable color that resists fading, unlike surface-level dyes that wash out quickly.
The History of Procion MX & Dharma Trading Co.
Procion MX dyes were developed in the 1950s by ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries). Their cold-water, fiber-reactive formula made them perfect for artists and hobbyists working with natural fabrics.
In 1969, Dharma Trading Co. was founded to support grassroots creators and artists. Through mail-order catalogs and community support, they became the go-to for anyone exploring textile transformation—including us.
Today, Dharma is our primary source for dyes. Their integrity, education-first approach, and long-standing commitment to creativity align perfectly with More ∞ Joy’s ethos.
What Makes Dash Dyeing Unique?
Let’s explore what separates dash-dyeing from traditional methods:
1. Intentional Chaos
You don’t apply color in perfect spirals or symmetrical patterns. You let it flow. You drop, pour, spray, and dash. It’s spontaneous. It’s intuitive.
2. Reduced Waste
We use precise amounts of dye and activator, applied only where needed. Compared to traditional immersion methods, dash dyeing uses significantly less water and produces less runoff.
3. Abstract Expressionism in Fabric
Each garment is a mini-canvas. No two pieces are the same. Even the same dye poured on two garments will look different because of fiber type, pressure, and atmosphere.
4. Emotional Connection
Dash dyeing is experiential. People don’t just receive a product—they participate in a process. Many of our clients say it feels meditative, emotional, or even spiritual.
5. Earth-Centered Creativity
Our dye tent is outdoors. We let the breeze shift pigment. We let the sun dry it. Dash dyeing happens in collaboration with nature.
Why Dash Dyeing Is Healing
Color isn’t just visual—it’s vibrational. Our dash-dye method draws from principles of chromotherapy and somatic healing. Here’s why it matters:
- Color activates your nervous system: Each hue has a frequency, stimulating different emotional states.
- Creating with your hands calms the body. Pouring pigment onto cloth engages fine motor skills and breath.
- You release control: Surrendering to an uncontrolled pattern mirrors emotional release.
- You transform a worn or damaged item: This echoes inner healing—the idea that what is broken can be beautiful again.
Every piece is a metaphor. Every dash is a declaration.
From the Dye Jar to Your Closet
Whether upcycling your favorite tee or designing a complete look for the CMYK Portrait Project, dash dyeing brings intention back into fashion.
It’s not about wearing what’s trendy. It’s about wearing what you feel.
Clients often say they:
- Feel more confident in pieces they helped co-create
- Notice compliments when wearing dash-dyed garments
- Feel comforted or empowered by specific colors
We see it repeatedly: when someone wears their truth, it radiates.
How to Join the Dash Movement
Whether you want to co-create with us or experiment at home, there are many ways to bring dash dyeing into your life:
🌟 Book a Dash Dye Session
Please bring your garment or choose from our inventory. You’ll help pour pigment, set intention, and co-create a wearable piece of art.
→ Book Your Session
🎨 Buy a Take-Home Color Kit
We offer pigment kits with 3 dye colors, activator mix, instructions, and swatches. Perfect for upcycling parties, classrooms, or quiet self-expression.
→ Shop Color Kits
🧺 Join a Community Workshop
During the summer, we host open studio time in Grand Rapids. Dash-dye something, meet new friends, and explore your relationship to color.
→ View Events
📷 Participate in the CMYK Project
Our portrait series explores how people move, feel, and show up differently when dressed in comfortable, expressive color.
→ Learn More
Final Reflection: One Dash at a Time
From the sands of Egypt to your backyard dye session, the impulse to transform textiles is eternal. At More ∞ Joy, we honor that tradition while evolving it for today’s world—one that needs less waste, more intention, and much more joy.
Every dash you make is a tiny act of rebellion: against fast fashion, against sameness, against silence. It’s a splash of color in a gray world.
So go ahead—dash it. Feel it. Wear it. Share it.
More ∞ Joy is possible—and it starts with color.
→ Start Dash Dyeing Now
→ Explore Color Psychology & Resources
→ Read the Chromatic Kintsugi Philosophy
