I started dyeing 20 (!) years ago in college for fun using Procion MX dyes from Brooks & Flynn. Initially, I made them for family and friends, but the demand for my shirts led to tie-dye turning into the ideal summer job for me and helped me buy my first car. I put away my dyes when I headed to grad school and never really looked back, although people still knew me as "the girl who made tie-dyes" and would comment that my shirts were "the best."

A couple summers ago, my then 4-year old daughter Elena, who had seen me wearing my old (but still brilliant!) shirts around to do housework, happened upon my jars of dye in the basement and begged me to make shirts for her and her friends. The results from those old dyes were good, even after 15 years! I found Dharma Trading as the source for all my dyeing needs: Procion MX dyes, urea, soda ash, sodium alginate, and Synthrapol, as outlined in the soda-soak method in the Dharma catalog. What I love about Dharma, besides great customer service, is the fantastic array of children's clothing, especially the lettuce-edge items for girls. Now, as Yogi Berra would say, "It's deja vu all over again" -- demand for my dyes has led to my selling clothing and teaching how to make tie-dyes again.

Thanks Dharma!

Jana Colacino

email inquiries to: jana@janacolacino.com