NATURE BORN
Opening The Closing Chapter
Now available a small selection of pieces that already exist within the studio.
Linen trousers, tops, and jackets;
ready-made, one of a kind, and available now.
They come from a chapter of exploration and making, and now mark a moment of transition;
the closing of one era before moving fully into another.
Chapter 1
A soft, strapless smocked top made from cotton sourced in Tripoli, Greece. Naturally dyed in the atelier using logwood bark, creating deep earthy purples and browns, then bundle dyed with cochineal to reveal subtle, organic bursts of red throughout the fabric.
The fully elasticated smocking allows the piece to gently hug the body, offering both comfort and flexibility in fit. Finished with delicate ruffled edges, it carries a feminine yet raw, handcrafted feel.
Details:
– 100% cotton (Tripoli, Greece)
– Naturally dyed with logwood bark
– Bundle dyed with cochineal
– Strapless, fully smocked
– Length: 30 cm
– One size (flexible fit)
– Handmade
A lightweight dress made from linen from Tripoli, Greece, naturally dyed with indigo and layered with bundle-dyed imprints from chamomile, walnut leaves, mallow roses, and walnut husks.
The surface reveals a soft interplay of deep and earthy tones—subtle botanical traces emerging through the indigo, creating a rich, organic texture.
Designed with a feminine yet effortless silhouette, it features adjustable straps, an open back with tie detail, and elastic at the waist for comfort and flexibility. The shape gently follows the body while allowing ease of movement.
Details
– 100% linen
– Naturally dyed with indigo
– Bundle dyed with chamomile, walnut leaves, mallow roses & walnut husks
– Adjustable straps
– Open back with tie
– Elastic at the back
XS/S: length: 70cm
waist: 58cm - 78cm
Naturally dyed linen shorts
A pair of relaxed linen shorts crafted from fabric from Tripoli, Greece. Naturally dyed with cutch, creating warm, earthy brown tones, and finished with statement pockets bundle dyed using madder roots and peonies—revealing soft, organic prints in reddish hues.
Designed with a comfortable elastic waistband, the silhouette is easy, breathable, and effortless to wear. The contrast between the base dye and the botanical pockets adds a subtle yet artistic dimension to the piece.
S/M:
waist: 66cm-88cm
length: 38cm
Details:
– 100% linen (Tripoli, Greece)
– Naturally dyed with cutch
– Pockets bundle dyed with madder roots & peonies
– Elastic waistband
– Relaxed fit
– Handmade
Latest Collaborations
Christiana Vardakou is a premium natural dye atelier creating made-to-order garments, textiles, and collaborative projects for brands, hospitality, and design.
Rooted in craft and cultural knowledge, the studio works through small-scale production and educational practice.
Bundle Dyeing Workshop
Explore the art of bundle dyeing in a creative and playful atmosphere
Location: Kallirois Parren 3, Athens
Duration: 2.5 hours (11:00 - 13:30)
Class size: Maximum 6 students
What you will learn:
In this workshop, you’ll dive into the fascinating world of bundle dyeing, a contemporary technique first developed by India Flint in Australia. This method uses fresh flowers, leaves, and other plant materials to create botanical prints on fabric. When the plants are steamed, their natural colours transfer onto the fabric, forming unique and beautiful herbal-infused patterns.
Key topics covered:
Introduction to Plants: Learn about different plants and flowers that can be used to create stunning prints.
Bundle Dyeing Techniques: Discover the folding and rolling methods that give you endless possibilities for creating unique patterns.
Mordants & Fabric Choices: Understand the role of mordants in the dyeing process and which fabrics work best for eco-printing.
Unpredictability & Creativity: Embrace the spontaneous nature of the process, allowing you to experiment and play with different styles.
What you will make:
Each participant will have the opportunity to print on a 100% silk scarf (45x45 cm) using the bundle dyeing technique, creating a unique piece of wearable art to take home.
What to bring:
Please bring a notebook to jot down your insights and creative ideas throughout the workshop.
Language:
The workshop is taught in Greek and/or English, depending on the participants.
Next Workshops
Batik Workshop
Explore the ancient art of wax-resist dyeing in our creative studio in Athens
Location: Kallirois Parren 3, Athens
Duration: 4 hours (11:00 - 15:00)
Class size: Maximum 6 students
What you will learn:
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn the intricate and beautiful art of batik, a traditional wax-resist dyeing technique that originated in Indonesia. Using small copper tools called tjantings, you’ll apply melted wax onto cotton fabric to create designs that resist the dye, leaving behind unique patterns where the wax has been applied.
Key topics covered:
Introduction to Batik: Learn how to use the tjanting tools to draw with melted wax, creating intricate designs on fabric.
Natural Dyes: Choose from three beautiful natural dyes to bring your batik designs to life.
Layering Techniques: Add layers of wax and dye to build depth and richness in your patterns.
Mordants & Fabric Choices: Discover which fabrics are best for batik and how mordants affect the dyeing process.
Wax Removal: Learn how to carefully remove the wax after dyeing to reveal your final design.
What you will make:
Each student will batik on two small cotton fabrics (20 cm x 20 cm) and one 100% cotton fabric (45 cm x 45 cm). The larger fabric can be sewn into a cushion or tote bag. If you prefer, we can sew it for you for an additional charge of €10.
What to bring:
Please bring a notebook to jot down your design ideas and notes during the session.
Language:
The workshop is taught in Greek and/or English, depending on the participants.
Available
Homeware Pieces
Discover the latest additions to our hand-dyed pieces created to bring natural colour, texture, and craft into everyday spaces.
Each case is made from undyed linen woven in Tripoli, Greece and bundle dyed with walnut husks, acorn cupules, peony petals and hibiscus petals by Katerina. These plants create soft earthy tones and organic patterns that reflect the unpredictability and beauty of natural dyeing.
The pieces are machine sewn by Smaro in our Athens-based studio.
Perfect for carrying cutlery, reusable straws, or small kitchen tools, these cases are ideal for picnics, travel, lunches, or keeping your bag organised.
Set of two
Approx. 10 × 22 cm each
Back in stock!
Cochineal is a historic natural dye material traditionally used in textile dyeing to achieve a wide spectrum of reds and purples. The females of Dactylopius coccus colonise prickly pears native to Central and South America, as well as the Canary Islands. Valued for centuries by dyers and artists, cochineal produces a powerful range of fuchsias, crimson reds and deep purples, with colour variations shifting depending on mordant choice and the pH of the dye bath.
Offered here whole for controlled extraction, it is suitable for immersion dyeing, bundle dyeing and experimental textile processes on natural fibres.
For textile and artistic use only.
Not intended for cosmetic or food applications.
Want to learn how to dye with cochineal?
Take part in the Advanced Natural Dyeing Workshop to explore its full colour potential through guided practice.
The same plants used in our natural dye workshops, available for you to experiment with at home.
Explore the process of botanical color and begin your own dye practice.
Annatto has a long history as a colour plant across Central and South America, where the seeds were traditionally used to dye textiles, decorate objects and mark the body with symbolic patterns. Over time, the plant travelled across oceans through trade routes and is now widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia, where it continues to be valued for its warm sun-like colour.
For natural dyers, annatto offers a gentle palette ranging from luminous yellows and apricot tones to soft earthy oranges. The small triangular seeds release colour slowly. Today, annatto remains a material in contemporary textile practice, bundle dyeing and natural dyeing.
Offered here as whole seeds for immersion dyeing or bundle dyeing.
For textile and artistic use only.
Logwood is the heartwood of the tree Haematoxylon campechianum, long valued as a natural dyestuff since the 16th century. Known for its rich, complex palette, it can produce deep eggplant purples, smoky greys, and even orchid blues depending on mordant and pH.
Native to Central and South America and also grown in India, logwood has a long history in textile dyeing traditions. Offered here in small wood pieces, it allows for slow extraction and nuanced colour shifts — ideal for artists, natural dyers, and eco-print practitioners.
For textile and artistic use only.
