KAIA
Folded botanical-dyed silks with a dried burgundy flower, eucalyptus and a hand-printed card
A South African Botanical Studio

Printed
by Nature.

Handcrafted botanical textiles and intimate studio workshops, inspired by the flora of the South African veld.

Explore the CollectionVisit the Studio
KAIA — hand printed with plant dyes

KAIA begins with the idea of home — warmth, roots and belonging.

Every scarf, garment and textile is individually made rather than mass produced. Botanical printing leaves natural variations in colour and mark — the reason no two KAIA pieces are ever exactly the same.

Meet Marinda

Maker.
Eco print artist.

“Hi, ek is Marinda. Laat ek myself in my moedertaal aan jou voorstel.”

In Afrikaans

Ek is die skepper van Kaia — ’n eco print produk wat gebore is uit my liefde vir die natuur, my hande se werk en die plek waar ek woon.

Groei waar jy geplant is — Kaia / iKaya beteken ’n tuiskoms, en ’n plek waar jy hoort. Suid-Afrika is ons tuiste en by jou huis is jy eg en “pure” — en dit beteken vir my om onveranderlik in jou identiteit te bly, maar ook steeds saam jou erfenis te groei.

Ek werk met wat ek het. Ek hoef nie ver te gaan soek na inspirasie nie. Ek woon in ’n ongelooflik mooi land, Suid-Afrika, waar die landskap oorheers word deur natuurlike skoonheid — blomme, blare, bome, berge en die wonderlike kleure van die natuur.

Dit is waar my werk begin.

Ek skep unieke drukwerk op lap deur blomme, blare en natuurlike kleurstowwe te gebruik. Ek werk met die plante self om afdrukke te maak wat nooit presies herhaal kan word nie. Elke stuk is uniek enig in sy soort.

Elke stuk word met die hand gedruk, met geduld en sorg. Vir my vertel elke afdruk ’n storie — ’n klein tapisserie van die plante en blomme van Suid-Afrika, vasgevang op lap.

Kaia is vir my ’n manier om dit wat rondom my is, te waardeer. Om met my hande te werk. Om stadiger te leef. Om te neem wat die natuur vir my gee en iets nuuts en moois daarmee te skep.

Kaia is ’n tuiskoms.
’n Stukkie Suid-Afrika.
’n Stukkie natuur, met die hand gemaak.

Continue in English
Marinda by a lake with mountains and wildflowers in her hair
The Process

The beauty is
in the making.

Nothing is screen printed. Nothing is dyed to a formula. Each piece is a conversation between plant, cloth and time.

Botanical Printing
  1. Yellow cosmos flowers gathered in a painted wooden tray outside the KAIA home
    01

    Gather

    Collect flowers, leaves and natural materials from the garden.

  2. Flowers and botanical material laid out across a white cotton T-shirt
    02

    Arrange

    Arrange flowers, leaves and natural materials directly onto the textile.

  3. A botanical textile bundle wrapped tightly with natural twine
    03

    Bundle

    Roll and tightly bundle the textile to hold the botanical material in place.

  4. Wrapped botanical bundles resting inside the large metal steaming pot
    04

    Steam

    The bundles are steamed to release the plants' natural colour and tannins.

  5. The finished botanical printed T-shirt hanging in the sun
    05

    Reveal

    Unwrap your piece and discover a botanical print that can never be reproduced exactly.

A glass jar of living indigo vat catching the light on the studio window sill
Indigo

Colour drawn from
a living vat.

Cloth is slowly transformed through repeated dipping and exposure to air, building the distinctive depth of natural indigo one layer at a time.

The vat is tended like a living thing — stirred, rested and watched. Green lifts from the dye bath and turns to blue in the air.

Vat · Maker · Cloth
The shimmering surface of a living indigo vat, ready to receive cloth
Botanical-printed socks being dipped into a living indigo vat
An indigo-stained hand holding the wooden stirring paddle from the vat
Indigo-dyed botanical textiles with hand-written KAIA tags tied in bundles
An indigo dyed botanical printed shirt resting on the KAIA cloth beside a dye paddle
Collections

Small,
seasonal editions.

Each piece is unique

KAIA pieces are individually hand-printed and dyed — availability and pricing may vary.

This is a collection showcase. If you would like to enquire about a piece, please click enquire, and I’ll be happy to confirm availability, price, and details.

A botanical printed cotton dress with eucalyptus and rust leaf marks hanging on a wooden hanger
Close-up of a botanical printed cotton dress showing leaf prints, horn buttons and a hand-written KAIA tag
Botanical eco-printed cotton tops hanging on wooden hangers in the studio window light
A soft pink botanical printed shirt with a dried burgundy flower
A finished botanical printed T-shirt hanging in the sun
A blue indigo botanical printed shirt hanging on a wooden hanger
No. 02

Botanical Clothing

Individually printed wearable pieces
R650
Enquire to buy
A botanical printed yoga mat bag with a natural cotton strap, carried over a rust coloured top
A botanical printed yoga mat bag with its hand-written KAIA tag, standing against a framed print
Close-up of a botanical printed yoga bag with grey and rust flower marks and its hand-written tag
No. 04

Yoga Bag

Botanical printed yoga mat bag in hemp cotton fabric with cotton strap
R550
Enquire to buy
A marigold botanical printed cloth resting on indigo-dyed fabric with its KAIA tag
A marigold and indigo printed cloth draped over a wooden drying stand
A hand-printed indigo cloth scattered with yellow marigold flower prints
An indigo KAIA textile with a hand-written indigo and marigold botanical tag
KAIA eco-printed socks in indigo and marigold with their tag, resting on green foliage
Indigo dip-dyed socks with orange marigold botanical prints laid flat
An indigo and rust botanical printed cloth held in the hand
No. 05

Indigo & Marigold Collection

Living indigo and marigold botanical prints (The Afrikaner blom)
R550
Enquire to buy
A KAIA botanical print kit with prepared cloth, dye plant packets, twine and an info sheet
A botanical print bundle wrapped in twine, ready for a home eco printing kit
No. 06

Botanical Print Kit

Everything you need to eco print at home
R550
  • 54 x 54 cm square Mulberry silk
  • Variety of dried flowers with pigment
  • Natural dye powder
  • Wooden dowel & string
  • Instructions
Enquire to buy
A botanical printed cloth in soft yellow, grey and rust tones unrolled beside an iron pipe
A rust-printed textile with eucalyptus leaves and subtle yellow botanical marks
Close-up of a botanical print in warm rust, charcoal and eucalyptus tones
No. 07

Rust and Tannin Collection

Botanical prints in rust, iron and eucalyptus tones
R550
Enquire to buy

Pieces are one-of-a-kind, so they are sold by enquiry. Message the studio on WhatsApp about a piece and Marinda will confirm availability and arrange payment and delivery.

Hands laying eucalyptus leaves onto cloth during a workshop
Botanical Workshops

A morning in the
KAIA studio.

Step into the studio and discover the quiet magic of printing with plants.

KAIA's intimate botanical workshops invite you to slow down, work with flowers and leaves, and experience the process of creating a completely individual botanical textile by hand.

Gather. Arrange. Bundle. Steam. Reveal.

Guided by Marinda, you'll explore the botanical printing process from gathering natural material through to the moment your finished print is revealed.

No two results are ever exactly alike.

Enquire about a workshop

Dates and workshop details are shared personally by Marinda.

The Experience

Create with nature

Work directly with leaves, flowers and natural botanical material.

Guided by Marinda

Learn the process in a relaxed, personal environment with hands-on guidance.

Small & personal

KAIA workshops are intentionally intimate rather than large classroom-style events.

Make something of your own

Experience the complete botanical process and create a unique piece to take home.

Private Workshops

KAIA workshops can also be arranged for small private groups and special gatherings.

Friends · Birthdays · Creative mornings · Private groups

Guesthouse, retreat and small-group collaborations are also welcome.

A botanical printed dress hanging on the wooden studio door in Glen Marais
The KAIA studio tables laid with cloth, leaves and botanical printing tools
Botanical printed garments and the KAIA banner arranged in the studio
Marinda arranging fresh leaves onto cloth at the KAIA studio table
The Studio

Made slowly.
Made by hand.

KAIA is a botanical studio based at my home in Glen Marais, Kempton Park, Gauteng. Botanical material is gathered from the garden, textiles are printed and dyed on site, and small workshops are hosted around the same table.

In the studio

A closer look.

Garden, table, bundle and cloth — moments from the making of KAIA pieces.

Overhead view of bark, seed pods, printed cloth samples and a mortar on the studio table
Dried orange marigolds and coreopsis heads gathered in a tray for the dye pot
Eucalyptus bark and leaves soaking in water in the studio dye bucket
Glass jars of dried hibiscus and turmeric pigment beside a mortar and eco-print display
Hands grinding botanical material with a stone mortar and pestle in the studio
Marinda hanging a freshly printed botanical cloth on a branch rail in the studio
A botanical print bundle wrapped tightly in twine, resting beside fresh purple cosmos flowers
The Recycling of Plant Waste info sheet resting on hand-printed botanical cloth
Currently held by

Stockists

Harold Porter Botanical Garden Gift Shop
Betty's Bay, Western Cape
Mooi Winkel
Kleinmond, Western Cape
Kogman & Keisie Guest Farm
Montagu, Western Cape
The KAIA Studio
Selected pieces are also available directly from the KAIA studio.
Interested in stocking KAIA?

We welcome enquiries from selected boutiques, guesthouses, gift shops and spaces that share KAIA's appreciation for handmade, natural and considered work.

Stockist & hospitality enquiries
From the Studio

Follow along @kaia_natural_prints

Freshly gathered marigolds and daisies in a clay bowl in strong studio sunlightYellow cosmos flowers gathered in a wooden tray outside the KAIA homeEucalyptus and autumn leaves arranged on white cotton before bundlingA botanical textile bundle wrapped tightly with natural twineKAIA scarves in blue, green, pink and orange hanging from a copper railEco-printed botanical socks with blue and olive flower printsIndigo dip-dyed socks on the KAIA cloth with a handwritten botanical tagIndigo and botanical printed cloth with a handwritten KAIA tag
Follow KAIA on Instagram
Write to the Studio

We'd love to
hear from you.

Whether you're interested in a piece, a botanical workshop, a private commission, becoming a stockist or simply want to ask a question, you're welcome to contact Marinda.

WhatsApp Marinda

Or write to info@kaianaturalprints.co.za