DIY your dip-dye

MANILA, Philippines - We all have that one ratty go-to white shirt when we’re too lazy to think about what to wear in the morning. Just pair it with a really good pair of jeans and a pair of Birkenstocks and you’re good to go. 

I hate to break it to you, but it might be time for that shirt to retire. But just because you’re replacing it, doesn’t mean you have to throw it away. With just a little bit of work, you’ll have a brand new dip-dyed shirt without burning a hole through your pocket. 

If you’re not the experienced DIY type, we created a simple step-by-step guide on how to make your own ombre shirt. It might get a little messy, so make sure you wear an apron and do it on a plastic or glass surface for easy cleaning.

Stuff you’ll need:

Cotton T-shirt

Fabric/textile paint of two different colors

Small basin

How to do it:

1. Mix one of the fabric paint colors with equal parts water. Make sure you mix it well to avoid blotches in your shirt. 

2. Dip the upper part of your shirt in the basin. Try not to fold it or else it will come out with white, un-dyed portions. 

3. Hang it and let it dry for about 30 minutes. If you don’t have the patience, get an electric fan. 

4. While waiting, mix the other fabric paint color in equal parts water. Make sure you clean the basin well before doing this. 

5. Dip the remaining undyed portion of the shirt.

6. Hang it to dry.

7. By this point, you can already wear your new ombre shirt, but if you want to clean it first, you can easily toss it in the washing machine. Photos by Maine Manalansan