Summer is right around the corner here and I’m excited to share how to tie dye shoes! If you have grubby white tennis shoes laying around, this is an easy way to give them new life. Or, buy a brand new pair and customize them! My kids are begging for a pair of their own now, I think we might end up with matching tie-dyed family shirts AND shoes by the end of summer!

This post was sponsored by Amazon Live; they provided all materials and compensated me for my time, but all opinions are my own!

I decided to go with a whole bunch of pinks & purples, putting some of my favorite colors all in one pretty ombre-ish stack. Once I started, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the other ways to customize plain canvas sneakers like this on top of the tie dye. Batik resist, hand embroidery, fabric markers, the sky is the limit.

I’ve used this Tulip one-step tie dye kit several times before, so it was a perfect fit to share it again with this post! This big one comes with a ton of colors, I loved having so many options to pick from. With this kit you just add water and shake, no soda ash needed, which makes it fast and easy.

You can see some spatter on the fabric if you’re nit-picky; it was starting to rain and I didn’t shake one of the dye bottles up well enough! I think it adds character though; making things look store bought has never been my goal.

If you like this post, check these out while you’re here!

• Upcycled tie dye t-shirt picnic blanket
• Tips for easy tie dye with kids
• DIY Indigo Shibori Tutorials
• 25+ diy shoe refashion tutorials

Pin this tutorial for how to tie dye shoes with this link or collage image:

Ready to make your own?

How to tie dye shoes

Supplies

• Painter’s tape
• White canvas shoes (make sure the fabric is 100% cotton for the brightest results!)
• Tulip one-step tie dye kit
• Plastic wrap or a grocery bag
• Paintbrush
• Bowl of water

Steps

First, WASH your shoes! Get any fabric chemicals off that fabric before you dye.

Step 1: Use the painter’s tape to cover up the soles, carefully and precisely. I had one slip up and couldn’t get the dye off for anything (mineral spirits, nail polish remover, bleach, dawn soap, magic eraser) BUT it was easily painted over with white paint, if you find yourself in similar straits. Take out the laces if you don’t want them dyed too.

Step 2: I chose to get my shoes wet! I wanted nice, blended lines. You can start with them dry as well, just a matter of preference.

Step 3: Time to dye! I just gently squirted it on, starting with dark purple and mixing in several pinks back to a lighter coral on the heel.

Step 4: I used a paintbrush & water to further blend the colors.

Step 5: Wrap it up in plastic and leave it for 6-8 hours! Overnight is easiest, in my opinion.

Step 6. Unwrap, wash, and enjoy!

Would you wear these shoes? I love that tie dye is popular this year!