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I’ve been printing on fabric since the 1960’s – going from tie-dye, to batik, to screen printing, to my own bleaching and dying techniques.
I sold my one-of-a-kind, hand printed t-shirts to boutiques on trendy Queen St. West in Toronto in the early 80’s. Later I sold my wares at Key West’s Mallory Square sunset before opening my own gallery, Is It Art, on Duval Street.
Unable to sew, I worked with a designer who made garments for my Is It Art line of hand-printed women’s clothing for ten years.
After moving to Eureka Springs in 1996, I continued with the clothing line for a couple more years before abandoning all things printed, forever.
Well that’s what I thought.
So here I am with a new line of bleach and dye painted denim and linen that I have up-cycled from thrift stores in hopes of giving them new creative life.
The name Bleach It and Dye probably came after one too many glasses of wine with my partner, Bill. We thought the “Eat Shit and Die” sound-a-like was hysterical, but in hindsight maybe should have chosen something less obtuse like the “Eureka Dye Company.”
Oh well the cards and tags are printed and we have a big show this Saturday at The Space where I will be joined with 10 other very creative designers.
It’s a Eureka happening and I hope to see many friends there.
Saturday July 18th at The Space from 2 til 8 p.m. in Eureka Springs!
Pictured is the lovely Katie in a bleached painted linen dress from Bleach It And Dye
Click here to see more hand printed clothing from the 90’s
http://johnrankineart.com/hand-printed-clothing-1990s/
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