Sophie is a fiber artist who understands the myth and lore of fabric painting. Her designs are wearable art steeped in ancient and modern traditions of transferring color and design.

Sophie Guyot opened her workshop and showroom in Lyon in 2001. (8, rue Saint Polycarpe 69001 Lyon). She imagines and produces a clothing line of one-of- a-kind textiles object for individuals, buyers and purchasing advisors. To appreciate the value of her creativity it important to know a few basics concepts and history.

Dyeing technique in fabric existed in Egypt in the 4th century BCE. The origins of fabric painting naturally occurred as people started twisting and weaving fibers together to make the first fabric. The continent of Asia has a long history of decorating fabrics. Printing blocks have been discovered that date back to around 3000 BC! By 327 BC when Alexander the Great invaded India, colorfully printed and painted fabrics were commonly found. As trade routes began to develop, these beautifully patterned Indian fabrics were traded throughout Asia, Egypt and Greece. In the second century AD they made their way to Europe and Africa.

Sophie Guyot’s skill is also based on local techniques – screen-printing and needle-pleating - and on ethnic savoir-faire having studied dyeing techniques in Mauritania, West Africa.

Lyon, in the 17th century was the silk-manufacturing capital of Europe. Printing was introduced as early as 1473, and Lyon soon became one of the most active printing. During the 1930’s a new technique was discovered known as screen printing, also named "La Lyonnaise" technique, because of it was invented in Lyon.

As you appreciate that elegant, but natural movement of her fabrics it is enhanced by a technique called – shibori and tye-dye.

Shibori is a collective term for Japanese resist-dye textile techniques: tie-dye, stitch-dye, fold-dye, pole wrap-dye, etc. The most common English translation is “tie-dye” but the more accurate term is “shaped resist dyeing.” Designers use shibori subtle or exaggerated effec as it allows textile designers to explore different colors, shapes, textures, movements and volume.

Needle pleating (shirring) or gathering cloth into decorative rows by parallel stitching.adds to the visual effect of the fabric is another one of her Guyot’s signature techniques.

Silk is such an amazing fabric and is readily adaptable to the French serti technique with startlingly beautiful results. Sophie works mainly with silk, cotton, linen and wool fabrics, but always with plain, white and natural unprocessed clothes. All of the creation and fabrication are made by her in her studio workshop.