Bali’s Natural Dye Renaissance
6 fashion and lifestyle brands leading the way
Online feature for Bali Pure Living
Six fashion and lifestyle brands take inspiration from regional traditions and lead the way with artisanal earth-friendly weaves
Fast fashion has had its day. We consumers are more concerned than ever about where our clothes are coming from and what their environmental impact has been. Here in Bali, the sentiment has sparked a return to tradition; to making things by hand and using non-toxic plant dyes. Here’s our edit of the best places to pick up a one-of-a-kind natural dye piece, from eco-friendly yoga gear to wow-factor wall hangings.
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(L) Indigo Luna yoga wear, (R) Threads of Life textiles, photos: Indigo Luna/Threads of Life
Indigo Luna
Best for ethically made yoga wear
This gem of a store in Berawa specialises in beautiful earthy-toned yoga and swimwear made with natural plant dyes. The collection includes leggings, crop tops, intimates, and loungewear, all cut, sewn, and dyed by hand in Bali. In place of harmful chemical dyes, Indigo Luna’s garments are coloured with local botanicals, including indigo leaves (blue), mango leaves (browns and yellows), and native secang wood (reds).
Jalan Pantai Berawa, No.42
Open daily, 9am – 7pm
www.indigoluna.store
Threads of Life
Best for traditional hand-loomed fabrics
Threads of Life is Ubud’s original textile treasure trove. From the beginning, their mission has been the same: to support indigenous communities and revive the arts of weaving and natural dyeing. Intricately woven textiles — from Bali, Sumba, Java, Kalimantan, Timor, and Sulawesi —are the highlight of the collection, with around 250 styles to choose from. And everything, from ceremonial cloths to hand-stamped indigo shirts, is fashioned using plant dyes like morinda root (red) and jackfruit wood (yellow).
Jalan Kajeng No.24, Ubud
Open daily, 10am — 7pm
www.threadsoflife.com
Cinta Bumi Artisans
Best for boho bundle-dyed scarves
From their workshop and dye garden in Ubud, Cinta Bumi Artisans creates statement scarves and shawls inspired by nature. Made using lightweight Habutai silk, each piece is bundle dyed with leaves, flowers, and seeds from Java and Bali. Pomegranate peel, onion skins, mud, and teak leaves are just a few of the ingredients they use.
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(L) Almanusia dye workshop, (R) Store interiors at CLOTH by Medina, Photos: Almanusia/CLOTH
CLOTH by Medina
Best for leaf-printed linen and rustic throws
Absolutely everything at this Ubud homewares store is beautifully and meticulously made by hand. Soft furnishings are the specialty, and the collection spans indigo-dyed throws, hand-loomed rugs, leaf-printed bed linen, and scatter cushions made from upcycled fabric offcuts. And because they stick to botanical dyes and traditional Balinese techniques, no two products are the same.
Jalan Raya Andong, Ubud
Open Monday to Saturday, 9am – 5pm
Batik Indigo
Best for wow-factor wall hangings
A must for indigo lovers! Batik Indigo’s range of homewares and accessories come in all hues of blue. As well as a selection of hand-stitched wallets, patterned pouches, and tote bags, they stock statement wall hangings. The amazing decorative motifs are created using Indonesia’s traditional wax-resist dyeing technique, batik.
Jalan Monkey Forest, Ubud
Open daily, 9am —9pm
www.batikindigo.com
Almanusia
Best for indigo workshops
Almanusia offers hands-on workshops for natural dye novices. Choose from their day-long introductory course covering red, yellow, green, and black hues; a full-day indigo workshop; or a more in-depth experience learning the tricks of the craftswomen in Sumba. All packages include pick-up from Ubud centre, materials, and an organic lunch.
