Hello, from Maggie Costello

Wink Founder and Designer

WINK to science + art, llc was founded in Florida in 2015. The original inspiration for the designs in ‘La Mer 21’ came from the book ‘Spineless’ by Susan Middleton who photographed the not-often-seen magical world of underwater invertebrates. A quote from page 17: “They are nature’s fashion show, the haute couture of marine life.” So insightful and true!

In 2020 an interview with Rebecca Burgess came on the radio. She created a pair of blue jeans entirely within 150 radius of her home in California. With travel so restricted at the time, a new source was needed for fabrics. Her achievement and a quote from the cover of her book ‘Fibershed’ “Growing a Movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a New Textile Economy” tied into my vision of trying to create locally. From this point on, I delved into the world of dyeing fabrics naturally because even though it required quite a bit more effort it aligned with my mission of protecting our oceans by finding ways to create without contributing to its demise.

In 2024 on our very small farm in Virginia, we started cultivating some of the flowers, herbs and trees used for dyeing fabrics and making artwork. The most special of all is working with lavender because after harvesting the flowers for potpourri the leaves produce a silvery champagne color and infuse the fabric with an amazing scent. Nearly all of the plant is utilized and with care it will come back every year.

Other botanicals are grown and used in Florida, especially annuals. Some flowers are purchased like the roses, delphinium and hydrangea used in my ‘Painting with Petals’ artwork recently posted in Wink Blog. The most wonderful realization throughout this natural dyeing journey is that plants, mostly flowers, once they are extracted on to fabric have a translucent, fluid appearance just like invertebrates.

I am so thankful for all of the artisans, animals and plants that inspire me and for the opportunity to express my vision in natural ways.

~Maggie