NATURE BORN
Chapter 1
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.
A one-of-a-kind linen top, bundle dyed by hand using chamomile and marigold flowers, madder roots, onion skins, and annatto seeds. These plant dyes create a soft palette of warm peach, sun-washed yellow, and delicate pinks, with organic imprints scattered across the fabric like traces of a summer garden.
The silhouette is relaxed and fluid, featuring wide sleeves and an easy, breathable fit designed for everyday comfort. Made from natural linen, it allows the body to move freely while carrying the quiet beauty of the plants within it.
Details:
– 100% linen from Tripoli, Greece
– Bundle dyed with madder roots, annatto seeds, marigold flowers, chamomile flowers and onion skins
– Relaxed fit with wide sleeves
– Large
These soft linen pants are naturally dyed in rich rose tones, with sticklac, creating a beautifully textured, one-of-a-kind surface that feels both earthy and expressive.
Designed with a relaxed, straight-leg silhouette, they feature a comfortable elastic waistband and practical back pockets for everyday ease. The breathable linen fabric moves effortlessly with the body, offering comfort and timeless style.
• 100% linen fabric from Tripoli, Greece
• Hand-dyed with sticklac
• Elastic waistband
• Relaxed, straight fit
• Back pockets
Waist Measurements
S/M:64cm
Length (waist to floor)
S/M: 93cm
A soft linen jacket hand-dyed with avocado and madder, creating a warm, earthy blush tone with natural depth. Crafted from breathable, thick-weight linen, it features a relaxed silhouette, wide sleeves, and front patch pockets for an effortless, everyday layer.
The gentle colour variations and organic tones reflect the natural dyeing process, making each piece truly one of a kind.
• 100% linen from Tripoli, Greece
• Hand-dyed with avocado stones & madder root
• Relaxed, open-front design
• Wide sleeves
• Front patch pockets
• One of a kind, Unisex
Available
Homeware Pieces
Discover the latest additions to our hand-dyed pieces created to bring natural colour, texture, and craft into everyday spaces.
A one-of-a-kind cushion cover made from textured raw silk and naturally dyed in our Athens atelier using botanical eco printing techniques.
The silk was eco printed with a selection of leaves collected in Greece, including plane tree, eucalyptus, walnut, fern, geranium, oak, and jasmine. During the steaming process, the plants release their natural pigments, leaving delicate botanical impressions on the fabric.
After printing, the textile was gently overdyed with cutch, a natural dye derived from acacia wood, creating warm earthy tones.
Machine sewn in our Athens studio by Violetta and finished with a simple envelope closure.
Size: Approx. 35 × 35 cm
Pillowcase only – filling is not included.
If you would like to purchase the filling, please email us.
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.
Discover the magic of this ancient Japanese resist-dyeing technique
Location: Kallirois Parren 3, Athens
Duration: 2 hours (11:00 - 13:00)
Class size: Maximum 6 students
What You Will Learn:
Shibori is a traditional Japanese resist-dyeing technique that dates back to the 8th century. By binding, folding, stitching, twisting, or compressing fabric, we create intricate and unique patterns. While Shibori is traditionally done with indigo, this workshop explores the technique using a variety of natural plant-based dyes to achieve a beautiful range of colors.
In this workshop, you will:
Learn about the origins of Shibori and its rich history
Explore different Shibori techniques, including:
Kanoko Shibori (tie-dye style binding)
Miura Shibori (looped binding)
Kumo Shibori (pleated and bound for spiderweb effects)
Arashi Shibori (pole-wrapping for wave-like patterns)
Nui Shibori (stitched resist)
Itajime Shibori (folded and clamped resist)
Honeycomb Shibori (pleated and tied for a textured look)
Discover plant-based dyes and how different plants create a variety of colours, including:
Madder root (pink)
Acorn cupules (grey)
Onion skins (dark green)
Logwood bark (purple)
Chamomile flowers (yellow)
Understand the importance of organic, biodegradable fabrics and how different materials react to natural dyes
Learn how to properly care for naturally dyed textiles
What You Will Make:
Each participant will have the chance to experiment with various Shibori techniques before choosing their favourite method to create a hand-dyed silk scarf (170cm x 30cm)—a one-of-a-kind piece to take home.
Who Can Join?
This workshop is fun, creative, and perfect for all ages. The process is full of surprises, making each piece truly unique!
Language:
The workshop is taught in Greek and/or English, depending on the participants.
Photo Credits: SNFCC
Next Workshops
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.
Walnut husks are a traditional Mediterranean dye, widely used in Greece to colour textiles in warm earthy browns — from soft beige and golden tones to deep chocolate shades. Naturally rich in tannins, they can act as both colour and mordant, helping the dye bond easily to fibres and making them a reliable choice for both beginners and experienced dyers.
In Greek dye heritage, walnut was part of everyday life; women often used it not only for textiles but also to darken their hair naturally. Today, walnut husks remain ideal for eco printing, bundle dyeing and immersion dyeing on animal fibres like silk and wool or plant fibres like cotton and linen.
Offered here as dried husk pieces for textile and artistic use only.
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.
Plants for Natural Dyeing
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.
Madder (Rubia tinctoria) is one of the oldest known dyestuffs and, for me, the queen of natural dyes. Across centuries of textile history, it has been used to create a rich spectrum of colour — from deep reds and mulberry tones to warm terracotta, coral, soft pinks and dusty purples.
Cultivated for generations throughout India, Turkey and Iran, madder once formed part of Greece’s own dye heritage. Although cultivation declined with the rise of synthetic dyes, the plant can still be found growing wild in regions such as Paros island, Evros and Zagorohoria, quietly carrying its history through the landscape.
Madder is a remarkably complex dye material, containing multiple colourants that respond sensitively to different dyeing processes. By adjusting temperature, pH, and the use of mordants or modifiers, dyers can unlock an extraordinary range of shades — making it both technically fascinating and deeply expressive.
Offered here as cut roots for immersion dyeing, bundle dyeing and experimental textile practice.
For textile and artistic use only.
Want to explore its full colour range? Learn more at the Advanced Natural Dyeing Workshop.
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