The Vibrant Colors of Playa del Carmen
Colorful Food
In Mexico, my dairy intolerance does not exist
Tropical Birds
Crystal Waters
I am continuously stunned by the ocean here, warm and filled with exotic fish to swim next to
Endless Smoothie Bowls
Playa on fabric
About |
Shibori with Indigo Ink, Screen-Printing Ink, Fabric Pens
Inspiration
As we’ve been twice now, Playa del Carmen is my best friend Brooke and I’s happy place. With complete disregard of any financial limitations, we squeeze the most activities into our trips as possible. The best moments range from snorkeling in Cozumel to simply eating mango on the street. These fabric samples capture these memories specifically, as well as the vibrant energy of Playa as a whole.
Inspiration Sketches
mexsketch5
mexsketch1
mexsketch4
mexsketch3
Sample Collection
Playa on Fabric 1
Playa on Fabric 2
Playa on Fabric 3
Playa on Fabric 4
Playa on Fabric 5
Playa on Fabric 6
Playa on Fabric 7
Playa on Fabric 8
Motifs
One of our favorite activities in Mexico is snorkeling. The water is warm and clear, and the marine life is completely incomparable to what we have in Connecticut. At home, I’m lucky if I see a hermit crab.
For this collection, I drew multiple forms from these excursions for inspiration: the texture of sea turtle shells, the forms of vibrant coral, bubbles, and the way light reflects on the ocean below.
In addition to the ocean, I used a vibrant and colorful palette, as to encompass the fun, lively energy of Playa. Nothing is dull there; the food is flavorful, the people are upbeat, and there is dancing everywhere!
Final Fabric Sample
This final piece used a variety of techniques. First, I used the shibori technique to create the appearance of moving water. The lack of indigo dye in some places created the illusion of light and waves. I then used more dye to hand-paint the turtle form and coral below. I dipped the head of a mason jar inside the dye to stamp the circular forms, symbolizing bubbles. The final textures and details were drawn with fabric pens.
