While SDA may not be the first to venture beyond Indigo dyeing their garments, they certainly have a knack for formulating unique pieces that come dripping in naturally-dyed fabrics. Fresh from the real Osaka OG’s, we’ve got a couple of naturally occurring dyes featured on the new garment dyed Sashiko Ranch Jacket pieces gracing our curation. With both a Kakishibu (persimmon-dyed) & Sumi (charcoal-dyed) version, both iterations hit unique hues respectively given the garment-dyed nature of the dyeing process. A snow-stopper as well as a show-stopper, the jackets are fully Winter-ready thanks to the fuzzy blanket lining that the SDA crew have chosen.

This season we also welcome in the arrival of SDA's crewneck sweatshirts that have undergone that full mud-dyed treatmant. Taking the standard sinker weave sweatshirts that are sewn in Wakayama by SDA, these pieces have embarked on a journey of more than 1000km to the tiny island of Amami-Oshima, located between Kyushu and Okinawa. It is here that each individual sweatshirt is hand-dyed by the treasured Island craftsmen, resulting in the two unique earthy brown tones featured in the new sweatshirts.

The process of mud-dyeing involves two key stages. The branches taken from Hawthorne trees are first chopped before being simmered in water for two days. This creates the all-important tannin base which is required for mud dyeing. The ecru body sweatshirts are first soaked in this bath, prior to being introduced to the mud bath. The mud itself is derived from Amami-Oshima's rice fields which are highly rich in iron, constantly replenished by the abundant mountain streams flowing through the area to the sea. When the sweatshirts are soaked in the mud bath, a chemical reaction occurs that extracts the colors from the mud, and assists in penetrating them into the fabric. Depending on the levels of exposure to the wood chip and mud baths, the resulting colors will differ. It is thanks to the expertise of the aging craftsmen that this ancient and sustainable dyeing approach is still possible today.