Colorful Dreams Realized: A Tie-Dye Studio Blossoms in Colorado Springs

In the realm of tie-dye, levels of understanding and ignorance exist.

Holly and Matty Hilts are familiar with the finest dye (fiber reactive procion) and the optimal material (100% cotton). They are aware of which colors blend harmoniously and which do not (red and blue may produce a muddier result compared to purple or a patriotic blend).

As they prepare that freshly saturated T-shirt, they envision a design (possibly that recognizable swirl, perpetually varying depending on how the colors settle).

“I have certain knowledge,” Holly remarks, “but you can never predict how it’s going to appear.”

That’s the essence of tie-dye.

“You must relinquish that control,” Matty explains.

This reflects how the married couple leads their lives — embracing the unknown, simply going with the current.

This could elucidate their presence in this vibrant, Victorian setting along Colorado Avenue on Colorado Springs’ western side. They refer to it as Captain’s Cove, comprising a multi-unit vacation rental, a cottage, and a studio located at the rear.

Welcome to Captain Drips, the latest tie-dye studio in the area.

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Prior to their opening, the vacant area symbolized a fresh canvas.

“We looked at the venue and thought, ‘This is ideal,'” Holly remarks. “Honestly, I won’t mind creating a mess in this place.”

Feel free, they encourage the tie-dye enthusiasts strolling in, the couple visiting for a date night, and the children celebrating a birthday — go ahead and create a mess. Just be cautious of the merchandise: beautifully tie-dyed hoodies, collared shirts, dresses, and overalls suspended alongside lava lamps and foliage. And please take care with the concert posters displayed on the walls. They are cherished mementos of the Hiltses, who have a deep affection for dancing.

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Indeed, the Grateful Dead is exemplified in more ways than just the studio’s title. The essence of the departed Jerry Garcia, known as Captain Trips, is palpable within Captain Drips.

It embodies a spirit of innovation. A sense of teamwork. And certainly, of receptiveness — delight in the journey prior to the unpredictable outcome.

The technique of snow-dying holds particular unpredictability.

“When it snows, you can expect we will utilize that snow to create Rocky Mountain snow dyes,” Holly states.

Rocky Mountain snow-dyed t-shirts originate from powdered dye melting from the snowpack that covers them. This is an apt technique for the Hiltses, who are quite familiar with snow.

Approximately 15 years prior, they relocated to Colorado Springs from their rural upbringing near Buffalo, N.Y.

“Where we’d experience snow and ice storms that would halt everything for three or four hours,” Holly remarks. “Now we’re playing with snow here.”

They have fun between their professional commitments. Holly serves as a counselor at Rampart High School. Matty is employed at a medical device company — a corporate environment that sharply contrasts with his persona.

“He walks in like this every single day,” Holly notes, gesturing to her long-haired, bearded spouse dressed in tie-dye. “He truly does not fit into that environment.”

He favors a vibrant realm of art. He had indicated this years ago, during the course of their ongoing journey with tie-dyeing. They tie-dyed as children and subsequently hosted tie-dye gatherings at home and around campfires, welcoming friends and anyone willing.

“It was Matty who suggested one day, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could actually just do this for real?’” Holly recollects. “And I thought, ‘You have an idea, I’m on board with it.’”

An unfortunate event triggered the initial version of Captain Drips.

One morning, the Hiltses awoke to find a pipe had burst in their home, causing a flood. This incident prompted a renovation of the laundry area, which they transformed into a space for their pastime.

“We had this horrible incident occur,” Holly reflects, “and we flipped it over and created a tie-dye studio.”

However, the revamped laundry room didn’t fully meet their requirements. They needed to make an absolute mess. They required more room — more room for more participants.

This was the essence of those tie-dye gatherings: uniting more individuals together. Now they arrive at Captain Drips, greeted by some playful quips from the instructing duo — “Is everyone prepared to dye?” — followed by snippets of science and history.

“The Grateful Dead, undoubtedly, was a pivotal moment in the mainstream culture,” Holly explains, “but it stretches back much farther.”

Tie-dye techniques trace their roots thousands of years back to civilizations globally.

Bandhani is an ancient technique from India, a style recognized for representing love and goodwill; bandhani can still be observed in traditional weddings. In the eighth century, the Japanese bundled rice in cloth to create Shibori, which became esteemed by the affluent before its prohibition. Amarra is recognized as another early form. It emerged approximately 1,500 years ago in Peru and evidently reached Indigenous peoples in the contemporary southwest U.S.

Tie-dye had its moments in America before the hippie movement. During the Great Depression, the government promoted tie-dye as a fun, affordable fashion choice.

Then appeared the generation of hitchhikers heading to Woodstock. Matty Hilts’ father was part of that crowd.

“When I was a child, my mom would occasionally create some tie-dye,” he shares. “My sister and I would constantly urge her. ‘Can we do that tie-dye?’”

This experience was pivotal in shaping his early vocational aspirations.

“I always aspired to be an art educator,” Matty expresses. “But I was somewhat discouraged from pursuing that path, as unfortunately, teachers don’t earn much.”

Now he occasionally feels like that educator. Beyond the hours of his corporate position, he serves as that assisting hand at a child’s birthday celebration.

At Captain Drips there are gatherings with adults as well — occasions that are equally rewarding.

“We have individuals who are now friends from them coming in to do tie-dye,” Holly adds. “They depart and we’re embracing. We’re strangers and we’re embracing.”