ABOUT DOVA SILKS

Dorothy Dunnicliff (right) with Sally Shivers at the recent Vashonistas runway show.

Dova Silks is a wearable art boutique located on Vashon Island, Washington. The shop is where fashion designer Dorothy Dunnicliff creates her original hand-dyed silk garments. She uses only the finest raw silks, including charmeuse, organza and chiffon. Dorothy’s clothing designs are as elegant as they are versatile. All drape beautifully and are comfortable to wear in any kind of weather.

Dorothy’s love of silk was born from early memories as a child in living in Japan. Her mother often dressed her in silk kimonos. She can’t remember a time she wasn’t fascinated with fashion. She has sewn her own designs for over 30 years.

Expect to find colors at Dova Silks that you won’t see anywhere else. Dorothy’s design emphasis is on bold colors, and silk naturally produces vivid colors rarely seen in other fabrics. In addition to immersion dyeing, she paints the fabric by hand like a French impressionist. Though her techniques are deliberate, the outcomes are often magical.

Dova Silks opened in 1997 as Threadworks and incorporated in 2001 as Dova Silks. Dorothy originally worked with founding partner Valerie Spear who sadly passed away a few years ago. Dorothy now collaborates on garments and accessories with other Vashon Island designers. Dova Silks’ clientele extends through the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe.

Dova Silks participates in a runway show put on by the Vashonistas, a collective of independent sustainable designers of wearable art. Check out www.vashonistas.com for information about upcoming shows.