The value of flowers will endure as long as humankind exists. Even in a world highly advanced by technology, special attention will always be given to the beauty of a flower. Receiving a single flower or bouquet as a gift may not have any functional use, but it remains a delightful experience. Seeing a favorite type of flower on display or a beautiful flower plant in a friend’s garden can become a lasting memory. Sometimes, we remember pressing flowers between the pages of a book during childhood.
This story centers on Kara Marie Piasa Gagne, who has mastered the art of embedding the life of a beautiful flower petal into a garment. She lives in New York.
Our focus is on her vividly colored clothing. She dyes fabrics using natural methods and creates garments through that process. In recent times, the use of natural dyes has become increasingly popular as an art form in fashion design.
She believes that flowers pressed into a garment, adding life to it, are more fulfilling than flowers that wither between the pages of a book. Her main interest lies in such decaying flowers. She creates garments using organic cotton and hemp fabrics dyed with those flowers, as well as cruelty-free and silk fabrics. These types of fabrics are currently in high demand.
“I first studied jewelry design, especially goldsmithing. I even worked in that field for a while. Then I wanted to try something completely different, unrelated to my field of study. That’s how I began learning fashion design. Now, I’m completely immersed in this career without any limitations. What I want most is to see people wearing the clothes I design — to observe how comfortable, empowering, and safe they feel. I don’t even know how I became captivated by creating garments dyed with natural flowers and leaves. But many things that decay are close to our lives. Our lives, too, decay. Even our closest loved ones fade away. When they are gone, it brings us deep sorrow. That’s why I chose to create something beautiful out of what disappears.”
Some things are valued only after they are used and lost. Their loss makes them more precious and increases our love for them. A person who truly loves clothes is someone who understands their impermanence.
“What I always try to do is bring out color from flowers and trees. Additionally, I create dyes from gold and discarded food items. I’m really happy that many people in New York are now involved in this profession. Sometimes we gather to discuss the way we create. That helps us share our knowledge.”
Eco-friendly products, packaging, and vehicles are rapidly spreading worldwide because global warming is no longer a myth — it’s a visible reality. The greatest threat facing humanity today is the rise in global temperatures. Therefore, there is growing demand for naturally dyed garments.
“There is no ownership over the knowledge of creating garments with natural dyes. There are no rules. Everyone’s designs are different from each other. My very first job was collecting flowers thrown away in shops, restaurants, and flower markets. If they aren’t collected, they’re discarded as trash.”
“First, the garment is soaked in water. Then, it’s laid flat on a table, and flowers are arranged over it however desired. Leaves are placed among the flowers. Then the garment is tightly rolled. It’s tied with string and steamed for 15 to 20 minutes.
Once it cools down, the garment is unrolled to reveal the dye from the flowers. With materials like hibiscus or rose, you can get red tones. Marigolds and orange peels yield orange. Yellow from raw turmeric. Blue from butterfly pea flowers. Purple from beetroot or onion skins.”
When we listen to this story about natural dyes, many questions arise. First among them: do the colors wash out? However, if applied properly, natural dyes — just like permanent fabric prints — can resist fading. Another concern is how to create intentional, artistic designs rather than just random staining.
This requires training. Re-dyeing old clothes artistically and for longer-lasting results is a skill to be developed. Natural dyes do not last as long as synthetic dyes. Nor can the same style and color vibrancy of synthetic dyes always be achieved with natural methods. But that’s not the point. The core idea behind natural dyes is that the garment will decay in time — that it is temporary.
Still, taking an inexpensive or discarded garment and dyeing it with freely available natural materials rather than synthetic dyes leads to a unique, artistic, and mindful way of living — even if the clothing is discarded sooner.
