Welcome to my website www.helenasellergrencreations.com.

In the creation of my works on fabric, I use natural dyes originating from (or: derived from, which come from) dye plants: indigo, pastel, madder, woad, to create the desired shade for my collections with these plants as well as with other plants.
I love the magic of the plant dyeing process, and especially indigo and pastel dyes!
I often use the “tie and dye” or “shibori” technique, not to color the fabric a solid color but to create artistic forms rich in nuances and surprises.
I create collections of tunics and dresses with this natural fabric dyeing technique using the “tie and dye” technique, so pretty for summer.
The Occitanie region was very well known in the 17th century for the trade of pastel dyer, which at the time brought wealth to Toulouse.
The Terre de Pastel company is giving new life to the magnificent dye pigment pastel, and I had the pleasure of creating designs for their textile collection (table runners, cushions, bags, etc.) using this plant-based dye.
In the Indigo dyeing process, the fabric that I take out of a dark blue vat is initially a little yellowish but turns green and blue with oxidation upon contact with air.
The dyeing process begins with the preparation of the fibers.
Plant-based textile fibers like cotton and linen need to be "mordanted" before dyeing. The fibers are opened up to better fix the color, and they must be rinsed with water.
Dyeing plant-based fabrics such as silk and wool is done without mordanting.
For a dye by decoction, after mordanting, a dye bath must be prepared by placing the plants in cold water and heating everything until the dye bath boils for about one to two hours.
Next, the fabric must be soaked in the vat for about an hour before the fibers are rinsed with cold water. The fabric is often dried in the shade.
By leaving the textile fibers soaked for varying lengths of time in the vat, I can obtain the desired shade, and lighter or darker shades.
To avoid dyeing clothes with chemicals, even major haute couture brands are now turning to natural fabric dyes. It's the trend! We have to stop polluting our daily lives with chemicals!
The natural hues of plant-based dyes are so beautiful. Natural pigments connect us with our magnificent nature, which shares its bounty with us.
In the "eco-dyeing" process, which is also a magical textile dyeing technique, I use leaves wrapped in the fabric as a coloring agent. Their tannins convey their poetic messages to us.
The leaves do not need to be dried and contain more color when fresh.
Today, using natural dyes to color fabrics is also an excellent way to give new life to your old sheets, tablecloths and clothes, and why not also to enhance your interior design.
I will gladly share my natural dyeing techniques with you because we are all creators!
I use textile dyeing to make my own collections and I colored my summer collection with Indigo to make pretty tie-dye tunics and dresses.