Made to Order Plant Dyed Merino Wool Long Sleeve Top
A Thread Journeys original design, individually handmade and naturally dyed just for you.
Crafted from luxurious 100% New Zealand merino wool, this made to order long sleeve top is thoughtfully created for those who appreciate natural fibres, timeless design and slow fashion. Designed as a timeless wardrobe staple, it offers a beautifully fitted silhouette that is equally perfect worn on its own or layered throughout the cooler months.
Each top is handmade in New Zealand by a professional seamstress before being naturally plant dyed and eco printed using wild-foraged botanicals, resulting in a truly one of a kind piece of wearable art. The Thread Journeys collection celebrates natural fibres, traditional craftsmanship and clothing made with intention.
Please note that the design has been updated slightly from the first photograph. The top is now made from a thicker 200 gsm merino jersey, with a slightly higher crew neckline. Please refer to the remaining images for the current design.
Designed to gently contour the body, this top features a flattering figure-hugging fit, elegant long sleeves and an extended body length for extra warmth and comfort. The longer length makes it perfect for layering beneath jackets and knitwear or wearing on its own as a beautifully simple everyday piece.
Merino wool is one of nature's most remarkable fibres. Wonderfully soft against the skin, it is breathable, naturally temperature regulating and lightweight while still providing exceptional warmth. Unlike synthetic fabrics, pure merino allows your skin to breathe, making it comfortable to wear all day throughout both winter and spring.
Once your top has been carefully sewn, it is transformed through the ancient art of botanical dyeing. Using sustainably foraged leaves and natural plant dyes, each garment is slowly dyed and eco printed by hand. The leaves release their own pigments directly into the cloth, leaving delicate botanical impressions in rich earthy tones. No two prints are ever the same, making every top entirely unique. The photographs shown are examples only, as your garment will develop its own individual character through the natural dyeing process.
To wear this piece is to wear the wild. It carries the colours, shapes and quiet beauty of the natural world, bringing together traditional textile techniques, locally made craftsmanship and a deep respect for the land. Every stitch and every botanical print tells a story that cannot be mass produced.
This is slow fashion in its truest sense. A garment made with care, from natural materials, designed to be treasured for many years.
After placing your order, please email your sizing or measurements to felicity@wildbotanica.co.nz so your top can be tailor made especially for you. If you have any special requests, I am always happy to discuss them. As every piece is individually hand dyed, the botanical prints will naturally differ from those pictured, ensuring your garment is completely one of a kind.
For centuries, wool has also been treasured for qualities beyond its beauty and practicality. Many traditional cultures regarded wool as a protective fibre, valued not only for its warmth and durability but also for the sense of comfort, grounding and connection it offers. Whether appreciated for these traditions or simply for its exceptional natural performance, pure merino remains one of the finest fibres to wear close to the skin.
~
The garment will take on a life of it’s own as it naturally ages, just like us, adding to it’s own uniqueness and individuality (just like you).
Created from natural fibres, at the end of it’s life this garment can be added to your compost heap to naturally decompose & feed the soil (very unlike synthetic clothing filled with chemicals).
Botanical Printing / Natural dyeing / Ecoprinting is a slow process where fabric is dyed and printed using the natural tannins, color & prints of botanicals (plants, leaves, roots, bark, flowers, lichens etc). Much like our ancestors did for generations, clothing can be colored using nature’s abundance without the use of synthetic, toxic & dangerous chemicals. The colors are truely natural (found in my garden or foraged around my neighborhood, not out of packets), depicting the colors of my local surroundings & the ever changing seasons.