We got through with CREATIVITY
WOMAN'S WEEKLY|August 25, 2020
Three inspirational women reveal how they turned to a hobby to help cope with the most difficult of times
KIM WILLIS
We got through with CREATIVITY

‘The process is so magical, it removed the divorce stress’

Graduating as a weaver 20 years ago, I worked as a textile designer creating prints for big-name brands. It was draining, I was paid a pittance and felt downtrodden by fast fashion. I got married and took a career break to have kids, but as the children grew up, my relationship broke down. When we split in 2016, I was on my knees, financially and creatively.

At university, I’d touched on indigo dyeing, a method of tie-dye, using the natural organic compound indigo. I returned to it as a way to do something special amid the chaos of rebuilding my life, and I discovered shibori, a traditional Japanese technique of binding and knotting cloth. I’d spend hours dyeing scarves, jackets and tops, using tin-can lids, clothes pegs and drainpipes to experiment with patterns. The process felt so magical, uplifting and joyful, it took me away from divorce stress and made me happy when I was sad.

I launched Indigowares and started selling on Etsy, then joined a women’s network, DiscovHer. It was so supportive I felt confident I could make Indigowares into a viable business. There’s a growing demand for sustainable, slow-fashion that’s kinder to the environment, and I’m proud to use upcycled textiles and keep traditional processes alive.

I also run workshops, which I love, because I know what indigo dyeing did for me and I want to share my joy with others. The look of wonder in my students’ eyes as their creations are revealed never fails to delight me.

This story is from the August 25, 2020 edition of WOMAN'S WEEKLY.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 25, 2020 edition of WOMAN'S WEEKLY.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.