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
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
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.
Plants for Natural Dyeing
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.
Dyer’s chamomile is a member of the daisy family and has been used for centuries as a dependable source of strong, luminous yellow in natural textile dyeing. Known in Greek landscapes as a wild summer flower, it grows abundantly across Greece, Europe and parts of North America, thriving in dry soils and open fields.
Historically, dyer’s chamomile was used in traditional Greek kilim carpets and other woven textiles to produce warm, sunlit yellows. Depending on mordant and modifiers, it can also shift into soft olive greens. Its clarity of colour makes it ideal for immersion dyeing and bundle dyeing.
Offered as dried flowers, this dye material is valued for its reliability, brightness and connection to Greek dye traditions.
For textile and artistic use only.
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.
Ivy leaves (Hedera helix) have long been part of European dye traditions, valued for their ability to create soft muted greens and gentle yellow-olive tones on natural fibres. Growing abundantly across Greece and the Mediterranean landscape, ivy carries a quiet connection to local ecosystems and seasonal gathering practices.
Rich in natural compounds that respond subtly to iron and other modifiers, ivy is often used in eco printing, bundle dyeing and slow immersion dye baths. Rather than strong saturated colour, it offers atmospheric shades, making it ideal for layered textile work.
Offered here as crushed dried leaves for artistic textile processes and experimental natural dye practice.
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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