Too Cool for School: Boy’s Take on the Tie-Dye Trend

When you think of tie-dye, it reminds you of nostalgic summer seasons from your childhood. But the colourful classic can be worn by anyone. Thanks to the recent 90s resurgence, tie-dye is back with a bang! 

Once again a major fashion trend, the historic origins of tie-dye go way back to the traditional colour-dyeing techniques used for centuries in countries such as India, Japan, Indonesia, and Peru. Before becoming a mainstream fashion style, this beautiful pattern technique has been a form of cultural expression crafted in countless different shapes and patterns all across the globe.

At Gen Woo, we're big fans of casual icons that can rotate around your closet, and a statement tee does just that. As we wave goodbye to our winter wardrobes, tie-dye clothing is a sign summer is coming. If you want to inject colour boy's clothing—this trend is for you. 

What is tie-dye clothing?

Tie-dye is a method of colouring natural materials that produce unique, vibrant, fascinating patterns. Tie-dye techniques include crumpling, pleating, or folding the fabric into various designs before tying it with thread. The knotted cloth is then immersed into dye vats, cleaned, and wrung out. The tied sections absorb colour unevenly between folds, resulting in various one-of-a-kind designs, including spiral and pinwheel patterns.

DIY tie-dying has long been a fun way to unwind and allow your creative juices to flow. But, if you're not down for getting messy, the good news is that you don't have to be crafty to get in on the trend.

Where did tie-dye originate?

When you think tie-dye, you usually think of the 60s and 70s bohemian and hippie styles. But tie-dye started becoming part of US culture in the 1920s during the Great Depression as an affordable and accessible way to personalise clothing and homeware before exploding during the swinging sixties. 

Yet, the earliest examples of tie-dye date back to the Far East from China's Sui dynasty in the 5th century AD. Their designs include small circles and lines with bright colours, including red, yellow, blue, and green.

From fads to trends, fashion is cyclical and often returns when we least expect it. And like all fashion trends, tie-dye comes and goes. So, what does this mean for 2023?

Tie-dye spring/summer trends 2023

Tie-dye is a fun and colorful trend that's set to be big in 2023. From t-shirts and sweatshirts to dresses and accessories, tie-dye will add a pop of colour to any outfit.

Men's fashion has recently seen an influx of colour, with trend forecasters suggesting tie-dye will be all the rage. Dopamine dressing was certainly top of the list for summer 2023 with a number of designers, including Louis Vuitton, Versace, Dsquared2, and Paul Smith, all serving colourful clothing in technicolour hues of acid yellow, neon pink and sweet orange. 

With summer on the horizon, it's time to start filling your closet with clothing that represents warmth, excitement, and vibrancy. Keep your boy looking too cool for school with the tie-dye t-shirt trend and shop Gen Woo's Blue and White Boys Spiral Tie-Dye T-Shirt.

How to wear tie-dye?

Spruce up his summer style with comfortable and casual icons. A tie-dye tee can mix and match into their closet, creating outfits for any occasion. In classic crew neck cuts, he can wear again and again. Our Yellow and Blue Boys Spiral Tie-Dye T-Shirt is a summer staple he can wear at home, school, or out and about. Perfect for dressing up and down, wear our Multicolour Spiral Boys Tie-Dye T-shirt with shorts and sandals or jeans and trainers.

When wearing tie-dye, it can pay to make sure the rest of your outfit is as stripped-back and minimalist as possible. So if they're really not feeling the full tie-dye rainbow effect, choose muted colours or more sombre tones (such as our Grey Boys Tie-Dye T-Shirt) and make the rest of your outfit more plain, to make the tie-dye t-shirt the statement piece! 

And remember, at Gen Woo, we constantly look for ways to make better environmental choices in our design and manufacturing processes. Our casual icon tees are made from 100% BSCI cotton for wear again and again—buying from us means investing in your closet with a clear conscience.  

Now, we've got to go...summer is calling! But if you want to be part of our story, sign up for our newsletter now to access exclusive deals and more.

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