IN CONVERSATION WITH CATE FROM SOLTYSLABEL

This 7th June, we're gathering for our very first With Great Love event—an intimate afternoon of natural silk dyeing held in North Bondi. We're honoured to be hosting this special experience alongside Cate of SoltysLabel, a natural dyer and botanical alchemist whose work is rooted in ritual, artistry, and deep care. Her process is slow and sacred, a true celebration of hand-making as a form of connection.

Ahead of the gathering, we sat down with Cate to learn more about her creative journey, her relationship with eco-dyeing, and what it means to create—with great love.


cate soltyslabel

 

You’ve described dressing as one of the deepest rituals you’ve come to know. Can you share what this means to you and how it’s influenced the way you design and make each piece?

Dressing as ritual brings me closer to myself. It's a devoted practice of self-care and an invitation to play with form and expression in a way that doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s an intangible energetic signature that’s created when cloth adorns the body—I’ve felt this throughout my life, and I keep returning to cloth as a form of connection. It’s in how I show up to the process, how I handle the material when I make. I rarely use patterns and often work directly off the body. Every time I enter the studio, I re-enter a relationship—with my creativity, my spirit—and this is always reflected in the work in one way or another.


cate from soltyslabel

 

Your dyeing process is deeply rooted in Ayurvedic principles and the language of plants. What drew you to this path?

As a natural dyer, I see the plant world as an endless treasure trove of colour. Even different leaves from the same species can dye uniquely—and I’m never fully in control. I love working with the wild in this way. Considering our connection with cloth as ritual, it felt only natural to explore how it also impacts our health. It’s so important to wrap our skin in organic materials. When we work with plant dyes, we can take advantage of the long-term, subtle medicine they offer through skin contact. If used in a medicinal way, cloth can be re-dyed and re-infused after a few washes, continuing the relationship between body, plant, and fibre.


cate soltyslabel

Cate wears RUUSK Fiume Rings, Organic Bangle and Hand-Carved Cuff

 


Each piece you create is made by hand using offcuts, natural fibres, and a deeply intentional process. What does creating sustainably and slowly mean to you?

Creating sustainably feels like a fundamental duty—as a maker and as a human. When we shift our approach to making, embedding low-waste methods and conscious intention into the design, the pieces become more than garments. They hold value beyond fashion. For me, living in peace with myself means living in peace with the earth. That’s the foundation of all my creative work.

 

cate from soltyslabel

 

At RUUSK, we often speak about modern heirlooms—pieces made with care to hold meaning and memory. How do you see this shared intention reflected in our With Great Love workshop?

I’m so excited about this workshop—it feels like a beautiful collaboration rooted in shared values. Botanical printing can be a creative journey inward. When we lead with intention, the pieces we create become reflections of our inner dialogue, and our connection with the natural world. Each finished piece is a snapshot in time—a tangible memory of the feelings and connections we shared with nature in that moment.

 

What do you hope participants walked away with?

I hope participants left with a renewed sense of themselves as creative beings. That something turned inward, allowing them to see themselves—and their relationship with the world—in a new light. The feelings we access during a workshop can mirror back profound truths about who we are.


cate soltyslabel botanical dyeing

 

And finally, what does it mean to you to create with great love?

To create with great love is to live in reverence—to self, to others, and to the earth. It’s about staying rooted, even through hardship, and letting ourselves feel and celebrate the joy of true expression.

 

We hope you can join us at our upcoming With Great Love event and immerse yourself in an intimate afternoon of natural silk dyeing, held in a soundscape of crystal bowls, chimes and intuitive tones played by Tania of RUUSK and Sound of Sage.

 

When: Saturday June 7th, 2:30pm - 4.30pm (2 hour workshop)
Location: Body By Berner, North Bondi
Cost: $169 or bring a friend (2 tickets) for $300
What's Included: A guided botanical dyeing workshop and your very own eco-dyed silk scarf to take home.

 

cate soltyslabel botanical dyeing
cate soltyslabel
Cate wears RUUSK With Great Love Necklace.

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