Interview w/ Atelier de Myri (basel)
New in the online shop and our blog, Miriam Barth of atelier de myri shares her enthusiam for textiles and the “Shibori” craft with her hand-dyed sock collection…
Thank you Miriam!
What was the inspiration to starting your atelier?
The beginning of my independent work started quite a year ago, when I started a cloth collection with the theme "Fibres" in collaboration with Sabrina Licskai. We had the vision to create items that not only represent a product but also tell a story at the same time. These stories are about taking themes from the textile world and bringing them closer to create more appreciation and awareness towards the product. Through this collaboration, it was my intention to continue this goal and motivation and to complement it with new products and stories.
What drew you to the shibori way of dyeing your socks?
Shibori is a reservation technique that occurs all over the world under different names and with different variations. The fascination and inspiration of the Japanese dyeing technique arose from two aspects. On the one hand, it was my love of dyeing that drew my attention to the craft. The dyeing technique Shibori allows to a certain extent the specific guidance of the resulting pattern. Nevertheless, there is always a little bit of chance involved, which makes every single dyeing unique. On the other hand, shibori reflects for me a craft that is created with a lot of calm, dedication and awareness. The following quote has inspired me very much and reflects the way I work.
"The Japanese shibori dyer works in concert with the material, not in effort to overcome its imitations. An element of the unexpected is always present. All the variables attendant upon shaping the cloth serve to remove some human control from the shibori process."
How does sustainability play a role in your work?
Sustainability is a present and ever-present issue for me personally and for the way I work. I think it should be a matter of course to want to develop a good product that does not harm our environment or our fellow human beings. I do most of the work on my products myself in my studio. This gives me the certainty that they take place under good conditions. It is important to me that my creations are durable and produced with the greatest care. For the upholstery of my textiles, I try to use mainly certified fabrics. For my dyeings, I work with precisely calculated dye liquors, which means that almost no dyes remain in the dye water. This means that the dye water can be used several times before it is disposed of properly.
What inspires you in your designs?
As mentioned above, my fascination with my designs lies particularly in the fact that each one is unique. For the patterns and colours, I try to translate my inspiration of traditional shibori dyeing into my own language. In the patterns, I look for dreamy and organic shapes combined with striking colours. The dyeing of my socks is an interpretation and celebration of the Japanese dyeing technique but in no way comparable to the craftsmanship performed by a shibori master.
extra: share your favourite places for coffee/food/drinks/entertainment in your home town?
Giardiono Urbano, Minigolf Gleisbogen, Das Brot, St. Louis Buvette
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