welcome to
100% cotton. Made, hand-dyed and printed in Jamaica.
our inspiration
When I was 17, I realised that I had “Grapheme-Colour” Synesthesia. Synesthesia is a neurological condition where the stimulation of one sense triggers an automatic, involuntary experience in another sense. Some individuals may “see” sounds, “taste” words, “hear” colours or “feel” scents.
With my form of Synesthesia, I associate specific colours with particular letters and numbers. I also “see” months and the days of the week as colours!
While anesthesia means “no feeling”, synesthesia means “joined feeling”.
For as long as I can remember, I have always been drawn to colour - especially when it comes to choosing what to wear. Living abroad during the brutal Canadian winters, I actively avoided wearing dark colours. I believe that the colours we surround ourselves with can directly impact the ways we think and our overall mood.
I of course have to credit my love of colour to the island I am fortunate enough to call home. The warmth and talent of Jamaican people is unparalleled, and has left its mark on the world.
Joined Feeling is a Jamaica-based brand celebrating colour and showcasing our rich and vibrant culture. Each garment is made in Jamaica of natural fibres and is entirely custom, with the goal of making you feel confident and adding brightness to your day - and life. Garments are made to order so that they can be uniquely yours, with the aim of minimizing waste.
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I hope you enjoy Joined Feeling.
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Emma Miles
Founder
Our Hand-dyed Techniques
The traditional technique of Resist-dyeing dates back to 4th century Egypt. Fabric is manipulated prior to dye application in order to “resist” the dye from reaching parts of the fabric. One of the most well known modern varieties of resist-dyeing is Tie-dye.
While it’s been a form of self-expression for centuries, tie-dye’s cultural significance was solidified in the 1960s and 70s, serving as a symbol of rejection of the strict social norms imposed on society in the 1950s.
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Rejecting violence, materialism, and uniformity, tie-dye has established its place in world history - preaching love, compassion and individualism.
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On the surface, the resurgence of tie-dye may be attributed to the universal yearning for “simpler” times. But its revival in 2020 is especially telling - it feels like a call for change, and with its bright and vivid colours, for purposeful optimism.
“Perfectly imperfect”, the beauty and flexibility of the art-form is both in its application as well as its final outcome. All hand-dyed items will vary, making your Joined Feeling piece truly one of a kind and uniquely yours.