One of my favorite designs I’ve done is indigo dying.  I have done it on a pair of Chuck Taylors, Air Jordan, Vans, and Nike Outburst.  It’s great to see how the fabric reacts to the dye as each one picks it up differently.  I do start out with a vision of how I want it to look but sometimes you have to let the dye do its thing. And over the years as the blue fades from wear it gives it a whole new look. This time around I did the Madewell Sidewalk sneakers.  Thankful to have collaborated with Madewell on this project.  Below I share how you can DIY dip dye indigo kicks.

You’ll need:

*Indigo dye (pre-reduced indigo) 20 grams

*Soda ash 100 grams

*Sodium Hydrosulfite 50 grams

*Long stirring stick

*Gloves

*Large pot or bucket with lid

Instructions:

1.  Fill your large pot/bucket with warm tap water, about 1/2 way up will do. 

2.  Using gloves add the indigo dye(pre-reduced indigo), soda ash, sodium hydrosulfite and stir until dissolved.  Cover with lid and allow dye vat to settle around 15-30 minutes.  (I usually do 30 minutes.)

3.  Wet your sneakers and shake off excess water.

4.  Remove cover from your dye. The top layer of the dye may have a foamy skin, move it to the side with your stick.  

5.  Slowly submerge one of your kicks from the toe side only.  Hold it for a few minutes and remove it.  The more times you dip, the darker the shade.

6.  Repeat for the heel of the kicks.

7.  Set the sneaker aside and move on to other one.  Follow the same steps. 

8.  Once both are dip dyed, let them oxidize - about half hour to an hour.  Save your dye if you want to dye another item. It will last several days.

9.  Wash with a mild detergent and warm water and air dry.  Wash kicks at least twice in the washing machine before wearing.  Just a little tip so your socks don’t turn blue once you wear.