Brooklyn has no shortage of its creative talents. From dedicated writers and enthusiastic musicians to dynamic artisans and engineers, we’ve got it all. Shibori Haus is another tool that should be in any Greenpointer’s arsenal when you want to get down and crafty. Shibori Haus, founded by Jes Vuong, offers workshops in the art of shibori dyeing.
I sat down with Jes to chat about our favorite place (Brooklyn) and to learn more about this slammin’ and mindful art form.
GP: What inspired you to start Shibori Haus? What were you doing before?
Jes: I learned about shibori through a co-worker of mine about four years ago. I am actually still at the same company I was when I started Shibori Haus! I’m a womens denim designer. Ever since that workshop, I was hooked. I signed up for various shibori workshops and found myself teaching techniques to the people sitting at my table. I kind of just had an a-ha moment that I wanted to host my own workshop and give my own vibe to it.
GP: What is something you want your customers to know about the shibori process?
Jes: What I love about shibori is how one technique can create various patterns and designs. When I hold my workshop, I try not to overwhelm everyone with information but something as simple as dip-dyeing can be done in so many ways. I also love how organic it is and the whole idea of no two things are the same really fascinate me. We live in a time where fast fashion and mass market is so easy to access, I think it’s more important to invest in something truly special.
GP: What are some of your favorite shibori projects? Is it easy to learn? (I’m a newbie!)
Jes: Shibori is totally easy to learn! The most important part of shibori is knowing that it’s an organic process, and that no pattern will be totally identical. You can use the same technique and same vat but depending on how tight you used a rubber band or the spacing it’ll vary. It’s quite funny during workshops when people ask each other how they did their pattern they’ll respond with “I have no idea.” Sometimes you just go for it and magic happens. My personal favorite projects are now recycling items people have left behind, I’m really looking into boro work and hoping to incorporate them into creating tote bags and clothing.
GP: What goals or future visions do you have for Shibori Haus?
Jes: I love hosting workshops. So for me, that’s my main priority, my favorite workshops are private events though, whether it’s birthday parties, bachelorettes, or team building. It’s nice when a group of people that know each other come and do something new. I would love to do collaborations with brands as well as develop my own product, which is what I am currently working on, too.
GP: Describe your ideal day in Brooklyn.
Jes: I live in Williamsburg, so when it’s the weekend, I try to never go into Manhattan. On Saturdays, I love walking through the farmers market on the way to Kinfolk or Upstate [Stock] for coffee. It’s kind of bad, but I like staying indoors during the day working on projects. If I had to choose a place for brunch, I love Okonomi (my brother is a chef there). The Wythe and Cafe Mogador are also go-to spots for me. Most of my friends live in Brooklyn, but I don’t get to see them as much I’d like to. In an ideal situation, my two friends would host one of their amazing get togethers on their rooftop – they know how to host a party. I’d end my night eating a hot dog at Santa Salsa at Over the Eight. Those hotdogs are amazing.
Shibori Haus | 312A Morgan Avenue | Williamsburg