Sunday Visit is our interview series where we sit down with a luminary, visionary and creative in the Natural Dye world. We want to bring you the best of what is out there and show off all of the amazing work being done in our community. This week we sit down with Kristin Arzt, who we fell in love with when she made her incredible rainbow coveralls. We catch up with the new mama, and learn all about her practice and what makes her tick.
Tell us all about you! How did your practice come to be?
I’ve always been drawn to textiles and plants. Growing up on my grandparents’ farm, my grandma taught me how to garden and sew, and that early connection to the land and creative practices shaped so much of who I am. I sewed and made my own clothes from thrifted materials growing up and worked for slow fashion designers in New York after graduating college. When I was living in California, I was introduced to natural dyeing through a quilting class. Natural dyes were a fusion of my passions for textiles and plants, and I had to learn everything I could. I was instantly hooked!
What is your first memory of experiencing natural dyes? What initially drew you to the medium?
My first experience was simple like hibiscus flowers that a friend bought from the grocery store; which was striking but fugitive. From that moment, I was determined to find more colors and better paths forward. I gobbled up every plant I could dye with, foraged on hikes and neighborhood walks. I’m sure the Botanical Colors community can relate! From there, I started to hone in on indigo. It’s like I was drawn into its vortex. Into endless opportunities to learn from the plant. You develop a lifelong relationship with the plant—growing, harvesting, troubleshooting over years.
Traveling to learn has also been a huge part of my journey. I’ve been lucky enough to study dyeing and weaving in Oaxaca, learn eco-printing in Australia, and study with incredible teachers (ahem—legends) like Kathy Hattori, Catharine Ellis, Joy Boutrup, and Yoshiko Wada. These experiences deepened my knowledge and connection to the global community of dyers.
Haha! We are honored. Outside of natural dyeing, what are your passions?
I have been doing yoga for a long time, longer than I’ve been dyeing! Both practices are deeply personal and grounding. Yoga and meditation give me balance when I’m juggling 100 pots on the stove and countless creative projects. In May, I’ll be leading my seventh ‘Alchemy of Earth’ retreat, an annual natural dye and yoga retreat in California that I co-facilitate with teacher Gaby Colletta. This special retreat i one of my favorite ways to share these two passions.
Something most people don’t know about me is my professional background is in marketing. Right now I consult for fellow arts educators, independent designers, and dyers. It’s a gift to get to support brands and people I truly believe in!
And you even help us! Which we are so grateful for… You’re a new mama! Congratulations! How has motherhood changed your practice?
Thank you! Motherhood has shifted everything. Right when I think I have something figured out—my son changes the game! I’ve always appreciated a beginner’s mindset in my practice and teaching, and becoming a parent has brought that perspective to a whole new level.
With parenthood, I try to stay humbled by the surprises of constant change; when you find one solution, you need to adapt a new answer tomorrow. That unpredictability and learning curve also shows up in my art practice. There are endless variables to explore, and the results often surprise me. It keeps me curious, engaged, and ready to grow every day.
We’re also big fans of your rainbow coveralls — what inspired you to make them?
The first pair was a birthday gift for my sister, Elisabeth, who is a metalsmith and woodworker. They embody her. I made a pair for her wife as well, and they also wore them at their wedding reception!
Since then, the coveralls have taken on a life of their own. Last month, I got a photo from a scientist in Antarctica wearing them, which was surreal. I never imagined my work would span that continent.
Whenever I am vending at in-person markets, it’s priceless to see people react to them. They bring so much joy!
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Be curious, ask questions, and most importantly, experiment. When I studied with Catharine and Joy, I had endless questions for them (as you can imagine!). Their advice often came in the form of encouragement to try things for myself, which teaches you much more than a direct answer. I carry on this advice in my own classes to my students.
Anything else we should know? What’s coming up for you next?
There’s always a lot going on—that’s how I thrive! In my practice, I’ve been working with local and foraged clays as a resist for years and can’t wait to share this method in classes coming up. Next month, I’m returning to online teaching with a special ‘Clay Resist + Indigo’ workshop. I’ll also be teaching clay resist in June at the Penland School of Craft, a place that’s been so meaningful to me in my journey as a student over the past seven years.
Beyond that, there are a lot of projects further on my horizon, but the new online class and Penland in June are the highlights for now!
