Melanie Summers, a Fort Worth native known for her ice dyeing creations, has earned a spot as one of 14 emerging artists for the 2025 Main Street Arts Festival.
Melanie Summers, a Fort Worth native known for her unique ice dyeing technique, has been selected as an emerging artist for the 2025 Main Street Arts Festival. This prestigious opportunity is awarded to just 14 creators from nearly 1,000 applicants, highlighting Summers’ distinctive ability to transform ordinary garments into wearable art.
Summers’ artistic journey began during the pandemic when she discovered tie-dye through various online platforms, including YouTube and TikTok. She humorously notes that as a mother and wife, she had a wealth of stained clothing from her family members to practice on. Her initial tie-dye efforts, described by Summers as “the stereotypical hippie spiral,” took a transformative turn when a friend introduced her to ice dyeing. This process involves laying ice over fabric and sprinkling dye powder, which results in unique and unpredictable patterns as the ice melts.
“I couldn’t recreate it if I tried,” Summers remarked, expressing her satisfaction with the results of her experiments. The technique resonated with her, especially as she lives with Stargardt Disease, a genetic condition that limits her vision. Despite expectations that she would lose most of her sight by age 24, the progression of the disease has been slower than anticipated. Although she faces challenges, such as difficulty driving at night and over long distances, Summers considers herself fortunate.
Summers’ artistic endeavors are cleverly branded under the name Blind Eyed, a playful nod to her ice-dyed creations and her partial vision loss. Unlike traditional dyeing methods that require precise visual skills, her chosen technique lends itself to a happy spontaneity. “It’s a really lucky accident,” she commented.
Her brand emphasizes authenticity, encapsulated in its tagline—“made with love and profanity.” This humorous slogan accurately reflects Summers’ personality and creative process, marked by colorful language during her work. The phrase has gained popularity among her customers and is now featured on merchandise she sells alongside her custom pieces.
Summers’ background is as unique as her art. Growing up in East Fort Worth, she was involved in competitive rodeo and horse riding and later pursued a career in radio promotions and marketing after training as a therapeutic horse riding instructor in France. A detached retina, unrelated to her Stargardt Disease, forced her to rethink her career path and put a hold on driving for three years. This challenge led her to embrace her artistic potential.
What started as a simple venture selling T-shirts evolved into transforming thrifted clothing into bespoke statement pieces. Summers has since expanded her artistry to include dual works that pair clothing with matching wall art. She has gained recognition through her appearance on the television talk show “Unbroken with Janeé Hill” and recently held her first gallery show at Fort Worth’s House of NeVille, where she featured an ice-dyed Armani suit as well as several of her canvases while also offering dyeing classes.
Describing her style, Summers refers to it as “cowboy chic” or “couture-ish,” combining sophistication with a hint of rebellion. She notes the appeal of her pieces can elevate the wardrobes of professionals, such as bankers, who traditionally wear muted colors.
Summers’ creations primarily utilize upcycled and thrifted materials, and she specializes in custom alterations of her clients’ garments, ensuring each piece is tailored to fit with precision. The wearability of her designs allows her to market them organically, as she often showcases her work personally. “If I’m going somewhere, I usually have something on that I’ve made, and I make my husband do the same,” she shared with a laugh.
As she prepares for the Main Street Arts Festival, Summers is focused on producing more wearable art along with matching wall pieces, aiming to capture the attention of festival attendees who are in search of one-of-a-kind items. While Summers envisions future retail expansion, she remains content operating out of her dining room studio, prioritizing craftsmanship over rapid growth.
Summers is also mindful of her story and its potential to inspire others facing similar challenges with vision impairment. “If my story encourages someone somewhere, then I definitely want to take advantage of that,” she stated, underscoring her desire to connect with others through her artistic journey.
Source: Noah Wire Services
