About

BIOGRAPHY / ART STATEMENT

Mary Shemeta is the youngest of six children. Her mother earned a degree in fine art and was an art teacher for most of Mary's adolescence. Her father was a physicist and engineer. That parental influence of engineering and art can be seen in Mary's garments today. Mary's mother exposed her to drawing, painting and the practical arts of many kinds including sewing and fabric dyeing. Mary learned to sew her own clothes by the time she was eight years old.

Mary earned a degree in Geography from Humboldt State University, CA and spent seven years in the software industry before finding her true calling as a fabric artist.

Encouraged by a college girl friend, Mary started her clothing business, named after her cat "Doda", in 1997. She started by selling fleece hats at the Fremont Market in Seattle. She enjoyed the public's enthusiastic reaction to her creative hats and soon expanded into unique fleece coats and vests. After three years she was ready to work with new fibers including Tencel, Silk, Bamboo and Rayon. To get the colors she craved she began hand-dying her own fabrics.

Today, the joy of Mary's work is combining the technical skills of sewing and garment design with the art of fabric dying. Mary is constantly experimenting and creating new dye techniques. The dye work is an exercise in being open to whatever end product happens. Mary's dye techniques are always evolving and include Shibori, over-dying and color blending. Inspiration for the color and style of her clothing comes from a combination of music and her country living environment. Mary lives with her husband, daughter and many animals on Vashon Island, WA.