Most of us have had an opportunity to tie-dye a T-shirt at camp or a birthday party. It’s a style that has stood the test of time and sparks creativity and a ton of fun. However, the chances for a local tie-dye experience were few and far between until a couple of Hendricks County families decided to provide one.
What began as a family enjoying a little tie-dye shop in Kentucky resulted in Avon’s The Tie Dye Lab, a creative and indoor DIY activity many have known and loved since 2017. The Polley family entered the scene three years ago when they purchased the business.
“I used to work for the Indiana Department of Corrections, but when I had my daughter and she had special needs, it kind of changed the life plan,” Amanda Polley said. “We wanted to find a solution that would allow my daughter to come to work with me.”
It’s a simple concept and only takes 45 to 60 minutes to complete.
“When you come in, we’ll walk you through the design patterns available or you can freestyle it if you’d prefer,” Polley said. “Choose an item; we have T-shirts from three months to 5X, scrunchies, beach towels, hoodies, shirts for the dog, and more. Then, we’re there to help guide you through the process and you can take your product home with you that day.”
In 2025 The Tie Dye Lab moved locations. It’s currently at 7508 Beechwood Centre Road, Suite 500 in Avon.
More space equaled more options.
The Polley family added new designs such as polka dots and rainbows for dyeing, and revamped some of the color options. There are 28 colors to choose from and sometimes more.
“We make the dye from a powder,” Polley said. “A lot of people think they come in liquid form and they think it’s one single color, but in the powder form we can use anywhere from five to 12 colors to make the end result. We can also play with new colors and always offer seasonal colors.”
The high ceilings in the new store allow for a special added perk too. The Polley’s own a bounce-house company and will now include bounce-house rentals with private-party rental packages.
While guests wait for their finished product, they have a chalkboard, games and a lounge space for families and friends. The bounce houses give birthday party renters one more thing to do in the spare time.
The Polleys also pride themselves on offering a solution for all ages and all abilities.
“We’re handicap accessible and special-needs friendly,” Polley said. “There are no steps into our building and we have adjustable tables, so if a person in a wheelchair comes in, for example, we can adjust the table to bring the tie-dye project in front of them. We also have birthday parties for 4-year-olds and a tour bus of seniors coming in next week. We want to be inclusive to everyone.”
While families, friends, co-workers and others enjoy using their creativity to make the unique product, for Polley, it’s fun to watch the process, from doubt to success.
“I love the start-to-finish process,” Polley said. “A lot of people aren’t sure but they come up with their own vision, and when I hold it up, just the look on their face is worth it. You can see their sense of pride.”
They also host special events such as Senior Citizen Tie Dye Days and Children Days.
