WATERLAND DESIGNS

Our Story

Our family has been incredibly lucky to be able to grow up amongst and experience some of the most beautiful places in Australia. It has given us a love and appreciation of our environment. We are often found wandering and collecting interesting things that could make or inspire a beautiful scarf or piece of jewellery. 

These finds might come from a secret garden in inner-city Sydney. Or from an isolated farm near Glen Innes in the NSW New England Highlands. It could be foraged from an all-time favourite place, Oak Beach, where the Rainforest meets the Reef, in Tropical Far North Queensland.

Waterland Art and Design evolved after a 13-year-old school student entered the local area’s Eye Heart Science competition in 2018, which asked entrants to present a STEAM (that’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) experiment.  

A love of science and making things led to an experiment that involved chemistry and how to extract and set natural plant dyes onto fabric using vinegar, instead of using chemicals or metal oxides, which can be toxic. 

The naturally dyed silk scarves won 3rd Prize in the competition!  All the support from fellow students, parents, teachers and judges encouraged the making of more scarves. 

Starting Waterland Designs followed the hope that if people liked the scarves, appreciated how they are made, where they are from, then they would also be a reminder of Australia’s unique natural environment.

The making of resin jewellery soon followed the process. Inspired by the incredible colours and textures of nature, in particular, the Great Barrier Reef and Tropical Rainforests, we began creating jewellery that might translate these elements into organic-shaped, wearable pieces.

Through wearing the jewellery or scarves, or gifting them, it is hoped to spread an awareness, enjoyment and memories of a special place and unique environment.

Our Scarves

Australian flowers and foliage are the inspiration and source for creating each unique scarf.  They are made using a natural process which dyes and imprints the plants onto silk.  

Creating a scarf using local natural plant dyes can feel like a wearable connection to where you have been, the experience of a place or a recollection of travel.

Even though the plants are deliberately selected, it is the possibility of chance in the dyeing process that makes every scarf unique.

Our Process

Natural dyeing is not a fast process. It is very much about experimentation and discovery. 

Finding out which plants - flowers, leaves, roots, barks, and berries – have dyes that when used with the right fabric, will bind to the fibres. It takes up to two weeks to complete a scarf.  From the foraging for plant materials, to the design, to the dyeing, the curing and setting. 

Just some of the variables in each scarf design are:  the plant materials chosen to make the dye,  the placement of the materials in the design, the fibre (100% silk) used to dye, and the length of time used to dye and cure the fibre.

This natural, eco-dyeing process means the design cannot be repeated and every scarf is unique.

Our Care

Our scarves are 100% silk. We recommend gently hand-washing your scarf using a mild pH neutral soap (e.g. olive oil soap or wool wash). During rinsing, you can add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the water to neutralize alkali traces and to dissolve soap residue. Alternatively, add a little hair conditioner to the rinse water if you prefer an extra silky feel. Silk loses strength when wet, so treat the fibre with care when washing and drying.  Dry in shade and, If desired, iron on silk setting