Burnout can be a beginning…if we let it be.
Hi, I’m Carin—Master Dyer and Founder of Dye on the Side. I spent years in the high-pressure world of corporate fashion, chasing success in an industry that often ignored the impact it had on people and the planet. When I became a mom at the start of the pandemic, everything shifted. The burnout hit hard. The disconnect from my creativity, my body, my truth, it was undeniable.
That’s when I returned to the roots of who I really am.
Dyeing with nature became my way back. Back to my breath. Back to beauty. Back to myself. What started as a quiet act of resistance against toxic systems has become a joyful, liberating practice, and now, a business built around connection, healing, and color.
I host natural dye workshops for events, team-building, and celebrations, each one designed to spark creativity, calm the nervous system, and offer a space to play, experiment, and make something meaningful with your own two hands. Whether we’re extracting color from petals, foraged leaves, or kitchen scraps, we’re also making space for slowing down, reconnecting, and feeling fully alive.
But this story started long before the burnout. I learned to dye as a teen under the guidance of my mentor, dye master Karen Skoglund. Together we created rainbows for school events and festivals, and I felt firsthand how color-making could bring people together. That early magic led me to a career in Textile Development + Design, even as I kept teaching, experimenting, and holding space for others to reconnect with nature and creativity on their own terms.
Hi! I’m Carin, Master Dyer & Founder of Dye on the Side
After spending years in the high-pressure world of corporate fashion and becoming a mom at the start of the pandemic, I found myself burnt out and disconnected from my creativity. Working in the fashion industry, I saw firsthand the toxic practices behind adding prints and colors to fabrics, harmful to both the planet and the people involved.
Dyeing with nature became my way to heal, reconnect, and resist those harmful systems. Now, I share this passion through hands-on natural dyeing workshops for events, celebrations, and team-building experiences. Whether you’re looking to spark creativity in a corporate setting, add a magical touch to a private gathering, or create lasting memories through a hands-on art experience, my workshops are designed to inspire collaboration and connection.
Let’s create something beautiful together!
I began my dye journey as a young teen, learning the art from an incredible mentor, dye master Karen Skoglund. Together, we dyed vibrant rainbow tapestries and twisted spirals for thousands at parties, school events, and festivals. It was through these hands-on experiences that I discovered the magic of creating with my hands, how bringing new life to cloth can spark joy, foster connection, and uplift the community. I believe deeply in the power of art to bring people together through shared, meaningful experiences.
That love for dyeing led me to a career in Textile Design, but even as I worked in corporate fashion, I kept learning dye techniques, trying plants I could mindfully forage, and teaching dye workshops as a passion project. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with clients like Airbnb, Apple Inc., Facebook HQ, and Athleta. Through it all, my mission has remained the same: to help others reconnect with nature, find their creative spark, and embrace a more mindful, non-toxic way of creating with community.