Reclaimed lightweight silk satin from reuse hub Yodomo; they source surplus from local businesses to redistribute and these eye masks were made from scrap pieces from a luxury bridalwear brand.

The silk was first washed in detergent to remove any surface dirt. Then each scrap was individually dyed with a curated selection of plants and pigments to achieve the colour and pattern using the bundle dye method. These colours will naturally fade over time, due to sunlight and washing. Silk - as a protein fibre - has good affinity with dyes, and the least toxic mordants can break down protein fibres, so a mordant solution was not used.

The dyestuffs are a combination of imported powdered pigments from George Weil and foraged local and homegrown dried flowers.

One internal layer of organic cotton/bamboo quilt wadding (originally from the USA, sold via Ray Stitch).

Organic cotton thread (Scanfil via Organic Textile Company) was used for sewing.

The elastic tape is an undyed 6mm organic cotton and natural rubber tape originally manufactured by Charle Berlin.

Each eye-mask has been subtly logo stamped with a heat-sealed VersaCraft™ water-based pigment ink.

If you were to take this product apart the components could be separated and most re-used i.e. elastic, fabric, batting.

I make a point to utilise materials that would otherwise be wasted.

Silk has a cooling and calming effect known to be useful for sleep. The addition of quilt wadding provides a cosy feeling against the face. The simple elastic tape should reduce weight so it doesn’t even feel you’re wearing something.

The pieces were cut out of scrap bundle-dyed silk making best use of the shape, yet inevitably there were offcuts. These have been kept for other products, even the smallest slivers.

Hand wash is recommended, whether by hand or on a machine “delicate” cycle. Use a light detergent or soap nuts. Keep flat and preferably close to a heat source so the internal batting doesn’t fluff up. Do not tumble dry as this heat can damage the natural rubber of the elastic.

Note, that as this item has been naturally-dyed the pigments will fade with exposure to sunlight and with heat and agitation from washing. For longevity, limit your wearing of this outside in daylight (if you even would!) and wash minimally. Consider spritzing with a peppermint spray to refresh, or lavender to calm.

The item will be shipped wrapped in recycled tissue paper and a re-used mailer bag. Depending on if you purchase additional items, this is likely all that will be used in order to provide you with lower shipping costs.

→ Reclaimed silk 3g - @ £20/kg = £0.06

→ Plant materials - mostly foraging + drying time so hard to quantify but estimate of £0.50 per mask

→ Energy/water (for dyeing) - hard to quantify, included in overheads

→ Elastic tape 32.5cm - @ £1.85/m = £0.60

→ Batting - @ £10.50/pc = £0.18

→ Labour - overall approximately 46.5 minutes x LLW @ £13.85/h

• Bundle dyeing: approximately 7.5 minutes

• Cutting time: approximately 11 minutes

• Making time: approximately 28 minutes

→ Packaging - £0.01

Total: £1.35 (materials) + £10.73 (labour) = £12.08 × 2 = £24.16

A low retail markup would be x 2. Ideally handicraft would be valued higher, but it is understandably cost prohibitive.

To ensure a small profit can be made, an embedding of value to handmaking, ability to actually sell the item, and covering of overheads (website, energy, studio), I have settled on a markup of x 2.

Royal Mail Tracked 24 or 48 are available services for UK customers. Unfortunately due to international selling restrictions for small businesses from the UK, international sales are not possible.

Returns are discretionary.