Dali tie-dye

Dali tie-dye

　　Tie-dye, anciently known as jiaoxie dyeing and commonly called tied-flower cloth, is an ancient hand-printing and dyeing craft. The process of making tie-dye involves the artisan’s artistic craftsmanship, so high-quality tie-dye products can be considered excellent works of art. Dali tie-dye in Yunnan was introduced from the Central Plains and is now mainly produced in areas such as Zhoucheng in Dali, Dacang in Weishan, and Miaojie. Its materials are pure white cotton cloth or white cotton-linen blended fabric, and the dye used is plant-based indigo. The production process includes design, stencil application, tying and stitching, dye immersion, line unfolding, rinsing, and inspection. While tie-dye patterns inland often consist of dots, irregular circles, and other simple geometric shapes, Dali tie-dye draws inspiration from common flora and fauna, such as bees, butterflies, plum blossoms, birds, and insects.