Mr. Tie Dye

After a short spell of selling books and creating tie dye goods, a craft learned by way of a purchased kit, sales of the books had slowed but the tie dye was decent. Word of mouth had spread and Carl McClellan was in the business, as they say.

The tie dye business started in Pendelton, and expansion into La Grande followed a couple of years later.

But he had no working title, no company name. Sure, a few had come to mind. And his friends had suggested a couple. But none were really right.

A teacher friend had asked McClellan to instruct a class on the tie dye art and its methods. The kids in the class had a hard time saying the tie dye instructors name.

"Mr. Tie Dye," came a little voice. "Can you help me Mr. Tie Dye?" And then another. Soon, the class was calling McClellan MR. TIE DYE. He had found a name.

Mr Tie Dye began the adventurous, multi-splashed journey in northeast Oregon. After running a couple of small tie dye stores in the sparsely populated corner of the state, McClellan brought the art to the Willamette Valley. Selling in various "Saturday Market" type venues, and creating a fan base, proved successful.

Publicity in the valley, and a continuing spread of reputation, has McClellan working full time. Mr Tie Dye's reputation has led to community gigs and out of state ventures that keep that word-of-mouth an ongoing conversation.

The success is founded in the expressive quality of McClellan's inventory. Mr. Tie Dye the brand, has built a devoted and persistently growing fan base. Learning the trade and its artistic infinity, has enabled McClellan to generate revenue without a "brick and mortar" store. Inventory on Etsy and other social media helps, but the word of mouth goes beyond customers. They tell their friends...and they tell their friends. And, and and, and and.

Mr Tie Dye on ETSY

Mr Tie Dye has attended conventions in South Dakota and Utah, and done presentations at Warm Springs Reservation and Western Oregon State College. In addition to the Etsy store, the multi-colored business sells on The Mountain, a well-known tee shirt company and "green" retailer.

McClellan also focuses on teaching the craft to anybody who is interested. Classes and forums are part of the artistic process and Mr Tie Dye uses those outlets to stay in tune with the medium. Schools, clubs, private groups, and seminars are available, and encouraged.

Mr Tie Dye with the Rolling Stones Lips Tie Dye

The "old days" of Saturday Markets is over for McClellan, saying "The focus now is mostly on custom orders." Mr Tie Dye has managed to stay fairly busy during the recession and business is growing every day.

Growth brings challenges. "I love a challenge," said McClellan. From sun-glass wearing guitar pics to one woman who wanted "hearts on my butt", Mr Tie Dye has it covered. Anything is possible, even Converse All-Stars tie dyed by McClellan. And that only spurs more requests. People see the quality of the product and the care invested into the art, and they ask for more.

The colorful array of merchandise available through Mr Tie Dye ranges from the typical t-shirt to shoe-laces, bandanas, sheets, tapestries, socks, shoes, hoodies, dresses, ties, and just about anything else that one could think of.

Since 2004, McClellan has chased the artistic depths of tie dye, and his goal is satisfaction. If you would like a Mr Tie Dye product, or would like to set up a class, that is always available upon request. Carl McClellan is Mr Tie Dye, at carl@mrtiedye.com , 503-569-5832.

Super Cool Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor's