Dye Kween Is Turning Flowers Into Fashion—One Sock at a Time

In a world where most clothing is mass-produced and chemically dyed, a small New Jersey studio is reimagining what it means to wear color. At Dye Kween, flowers, leaves, and roots don’t just inspire the palette—they are the palette.

Founded by artist and maker Amanda de Beaufort, Dye Kween creates naturally dyed textiles that are as much about storytelling as they are about style. What started as a creative outlet has become a nationally recognized brand, celebrated by outlets like The New York Times, and worn by celebrities from Steph Curry to Miles Teller.

Rediscovering Nature Through Dye

Amanda's journey into natural dyeing began after moving from Brooklyn to suburban New Jersey. A director of communications by day, Amanda found herself craving a way to reconnect with nature. Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, she had always been surrounded by wild landscapes. In contrast, suburban life felt stifling—until she discovered that nature was still everywhere, waiting to be seen.

“Even on my commute into the city, I started noticing dye plants growing in office parks and roadside patches,” Amanda explained. “Natural dyeing made me realize that botanical color exists all around us, even in the most unsuspecting places.”

That realization sparked a near decade-long obsession with natural dyeing—one that continues to evolve today.

Handmade, One-of-a-Kind Pieces

Every Dye Kween product is made by hand, with no two pieces alike. The most beloved item? The Flower Power Socks, vibrantly patterned with blooms grown right in the brand’s New Jersey garden.

Dye Kween's Flower Power Bamboo Sock

“When I first made them, they felt like an experiment,” Amanda laughed. “I thought they were too hippie for my brand. But they resonated with people immediately—and now they’re our bestseller.”

From tea towels to table linens, each item carries variations that reflect the natural process of dyeing with real plants. This uniqueness isn’t a flaw—it’s the story. When someone compliments a pair of socks, the owner can say, “They were made with real flowers grown in New Jersey.”

Sustainable Color That Lasts

Skeptics sometimes wonder: can natural dyes really last? The answer is yes—though it’s a labor-intensive process. Fibers are carefully prepared with aluminum salts and mordants to accept color, ensuring durability.

“Like anything, the shades may soften over time,” Amanda says. “But even synthetics fade eventually. What we’re making is living color—it’s meant to evolve with you.”

That philosophy resonates in today’s fashion landscape, where fast fashion and synthetic dyes dominate. Dye Kween offers an antidote: thoughtful, handmade items rooted in nature, designed to be cherished.

From Local Studio to the National Stage

Though Dye Kween began as a personal project, it has grown into a brand with surprising reach. Collaborations with major fashion houses like Rag & Bone, Free People, and Anthropologie have brought the brand’s artistry to larger audiences. A collection even landed on Gossip Girl, giving the products a cultural stamp few indie brands achieve.

And yet, Dye Kween hasn’t lost its handmade charm. The studio still operates on a small scale, with Amanda at the helm, working between day job, family life, and dye vats.

Looking Forward: DIY Dye Kits and New Products

While socks remain the hero product, Dye Kween continues to experiment. A home goods line has introduced naturally dyed tea towels and table linens, while future plans include DIY dye kits that let customers try the process themselves.

“The kits actually came from the pandemic,” Amanda explained. “I put one together to keep the business alive—and they sold out immediately. It showed me how much people want to participate in the process, not just buy the product.”

It’s a natural next step for a brand that invites people to reconnect with nature in unexpected ways.

Why Dye Kween Matters

In an era of synthetic fabrics, algorithm-driven fashion, and fast consumption, Dye Kween is proof that beauty doesn’t have to be manufactured in a lab. The brand reminds us that color has always been part of the natural world—that flowers, roots, and leaves can create garments as bold and beautiful as anything artificial.

Dye Kween is more than a fashion label. It’s an invitation: to slow down, to notice nature, and to wear something that carries a story as unique as the person who made it.