Reclaimed lightweight silk satin from reuse hub Yodomo; they source surplus from local businesses to redistribute and these scrunchies 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.

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

The elastic tape is an undyed 9.5mm organic cotton and natural rubber tape originally manufactured by Charle Berlin.

Each scrunchie has an undyed 12mmx15mm organic cotton tape label stamped with a heat-sealed VersaCraft™ water-based pigment ink. The tape is from Organic Textile Company.

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

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

Silk takes pigments very easily and so you have such vibrancy and detail. With the shine of the satin and the joy of the dye patterns, you end up with such a luxurious item.

The pieces were cut out of scrap bundle-dyed silk making best use of the shape, yet inevitably there were offcuts. The eye-masks were also cut from these pieces and the smallest bits (even the slivers) kept for other products.

French seams were used internally to avoid any fraying over time as the scrunchie is used and washed. This does take longer to sew, particularly on silk, but creates a better finish and a longer-lasting more luxurious item.

Hand wash is recommended, whether by hand or on a machine “delicate” cycle. Use a light detergent or soap nuts. 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.

Of course, you’ll be wearing this in daylight and with exposure to the elements, along with hair oils and daily grime. Consider spritzing with a peppermint spray to refresh, and only wash when absolutely necessary to reduce the over-time fading of the colours.

Any stains so a spot treatment on as soon as possible, taking care not to rub and agitate the silk too much.

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 20g - @ £20/kg = £0.44

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

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

→ Elastic tape 38cm - @ £2.03/m = £0.77

→ Thread 4m - @ £3.99 reel of 275m = £0.06

→ Labour - overall approximately 54 minutes x LLW @ £13.85/h

• Bundle dyeing: approximately 7.5 minutes

• Cutting time: approximately 10.5 minutes

• Making time: approximately 36 minutes

→ Packaging - £0.01

Total: £1.78 (materials) + £12.47 (labour) = £14.25 × 2 = £28.50

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.