For Silk Scarves

Please hand wash in cold water using pH-neutral soap. Most dish soap is pH neutral. Tested brands include Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, and Dawn. Hang your scarf up to dry and gently iron it with an iron set to the silk setting. ALWAYS store your naturally dyed scarf in a cool, dark, dry location and NEVER in direct sunlight, as plant dyes are sensitive.

For Art

Please hang all art in a location that does not receive direct sunlight. This will ensure it lasts for generations. Framing with UV-protected glass or acrylic is advised. Gentle dusting using a fine paintbrush will keep your art free of debris. All art has been carefully framed and packaged with acid-free materials.

I hand-make the majority of my dyes from ethically-foraged plants and beetles or kitchen scraps here in my studio in Tucson, Arizona. I take great pride in how I acquire my dye plants, often only using dried or fallen leaves, and never taking more than I think I need in order to respect my local eco-system. I never ever over-harvest an area, usually only taking a sprig per plant per year. The only dyes that I purchase are indigo and occasionally cochineal if I need to fulfill an order too larger for what the wild cochineal in my desert home can offer. In this case, I purchase beetles from a family-run cochineal farm in Mexico. I reduce the majority of my indigo by using fructose from organic bananas or dates.

The silk for my scarves is sourced from China.

Silk for art pieces are created from scraps, and sometimes from thrifted or upcycled silk.

 I save EVERY scrap of silk for future products, ensuring that my studio stays as zero waste as possible.

All of my silk garments are upcycled from either garment that I find second-hand or come to me from designers who cannot sell them due to damages.

I operate my studio from a zero-waste mindset. That means that if something comes in, whether it’s packaging, fiber, or plants, I try to find a use for it, or responsibly discard of it through recycling or composting. This philosophy helps me to maintain a relatively small footprint. In addition, I try to source materials for products ethically and sustainably. Every component of my dye kids can be either reused, recycled, or composed. I compost all of my spent dye materials. I try to purchase only recycled paper, invest in alternative types of paper such as hemp paper when planning out many of my printed marketing materials such as business cards, and only invest in quality shipping supplies that you can feel good about reusing.

I also invest in used fiber over new fiber when possible. The exception is the silk for my scarves, which I purchase new. I save every scrap of silk, cotton, linen, and canvas, for various art projects and products.

It’s my hope to continue to be intentional and thoughtful about my studio. If you ever have questions, please reach out.

All inventory items ship within 1-3 business days.

Original art ships within 3-5 business days. This ensures I have time to package it properly.

Made-to-order items ship within 1-2 weeks.

I will contact you if there is a shipping delay on my end for any reason.

Please contact me for international shipping rates. I will hopefully be able to offer a more seamless experience in the future.

I love meeting my customers and people interested in my work. Please contact me at elana@elanabloom.com to schedule a pick-up time.