True Blue CollectionsNaturally dyed · thoughtfully made
Indigo textiles, bags, and useful pieces shaped by Chinese and Japanese-inspired motifs, traditional resist-dyeing, and the unmistakable beauty of a maker’s hand.
Explore the collection
Our pattern language
Our collection draws its character from the patterns themselves—floral borders, auspicious symbols, phoenixes, butterflies, and rhythmic marks that become vivid through resist and dye.
The collection
From tapestries to bags, practical objects become remarkable through deep indigo, expressive pattern, and thoughtful details.
Showing 8 of 113 pieces
Backpacks
Ancient-Chinese
Tapestries & Bedspreads
Kerchiefs
Tapestries & Bedspreads
Large Handbags
Fabric
Large Handbags
Fabric
Meet us in person
See our hand-dyed work, meet the makers, and discover new pieces at our next market, exhibition, or studio event.
Email us for upcoming market, exhibition, and studio-event details.
service@trueblue-tc.com
About True Blue Collections
Using natural plants to create these hand-dyed prints on 100% cotton is not very complicated, but producing high-quality results requires patience, skill, and, most of all, experience. Shengzhu learned the technique from her family while growing up and mastered it through many years of practice.
She began this work in 2001 after moving to the United States and enjoys working with the dye and designing beautiful New England fabric patterns. Building on the centuries-old natural dyeing process, she has developed many new designs and created and refined the new “two-tone technique.”
Her daughter, Phoenix, began learning in 2016. She brings great passion to the work and adds contemporary elements to the designs. All our products are hand-dyed and handmade by Shengzhu and her daughter in Connecticut.
A design is drawn on paper and carved into a dye-blocking template. Varnish is applied so the board resists the soy paste.
Powdered soybean, lime, and water become a resist paste. It is spread over the template onto cotton, then allowed to dry for seven days.
Juice extracted from the indigo plant is combined with wine and other ingredients. The cloth is dyed at room temperature to build a rich blue.
The dried soy paste is scraped away and the cloth is washed several times to remove remaining powder and excess dye.
The finished fabric becomes handbags, tablecloths, curtains, apparel, accessories, and more—each one cut and sewn by hand.
Notes from the studio
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