Meet Brooke Luallen | Natural Dyer & Art Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Luallen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
All my life I have loved being creative. Using my hands and my mind in a creative way give me energy, and over the years I’ve realized that its my therapy. After having my two children, I made a decision to switch from teaching full time to teaching part time. It was great being with my children and continuing to teach as an art teacher, but I needed something more of my own.

I had always had an interest in dyeing and painting fiber. I learned about the magic of dyeing with nature and it had me hooked. In 2019, I decided to take this interest to the next level by starting my business – Smith & Len. I wanted to share my joy and passion of natural dyes with others by not only creating beauty and color with the nature around me, but also to teach others about it through workshops. Now I dye with flowers from my garden and food waste from my kitchen, and teach others about this magical and sustainable practice of creating color with nature.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a natural dyer, which means that I extract color out of plants, flowers, or food waste and dye different types of fibers.

There are two specific aspects of Smith & Len that have been very important to my mission statement as a business. At Smith & Len the ideology of “reduce, reuse, recycle” is extremely important. One way we do that is with the products we use to dye with. Did you know that each dye bath that is created is made by using food waste or clippings from my own backyard? Or they come from Earth conscious individuals who saved their left-over avocado pits + skins for us to give new life. Our hangtags have even been dyed with left over tea bags! The idea of being sustainable in this world is so important, and this is one little way we can show up for the future of our planet.

Another extremely important aspect of running a business was the ability to give back. I always knew that if I started a business, I wanted to be able to help support the community around me. Each purchase from Smith & Len means that I non-profit is being supported. For the past two years we have donated a portion of our proceeds to a local shelter, the Evangel Home, which assists women & children in crisis. This year we will begin to support RUN International which provides clean water to those in East Africa. The family that runs this organization is from our hometown, and we are honored to be able to support their mission. For specific collections, we choose to give to other non-profits as well. We’ve supported the Central California Resiliency Fund, which supports the revitalization of the forests and communities surrounding Shaver Lake, California after the awful fire that ravaged our mountains. Smith & Len has also supported the Valley Animal Shelter during our Best Friends Collection. I am honored and blessed to be able to give back with each and every purchase my customers make.

Owning a small business in this current world of mass production and quick accessibility is difficult, when what you make is very slow and intentional. It has definitely been hard at times comparing your success to others or not feeling inspired because the world around you is moving too fast. But in the end, knowing that I get the opportunity to have a craft that teaches me so much, and to get to share my joy with the world around me keeps me going. I love when I get to create, and make mistakes, and learn.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly living in Fresno and the Central Valley has its perks. Many people don’t think that it has much to offer, but it is a lively, vibrant, and successful community of small businesses and restaurants. And not to mention the access to fresh fruit and vegetables all year around definitely has its benefits. We also live so close to so many amazing places, like the Sequoias and many lakes located just 45 minutes from our house. It’s also amazing being so close to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the amazing California Coastline. As you can tell, I have a love for travel.

However, if we are staying local we have many amazing things to do just a few minutes away. On a perfect weekend, I would grab a coffee from Fulton Street Coffee and then visit a local farmer’s market like the Vineyard Farmer’s Market to pick up some pastries from Palo Verde and flowers from Laurel Botanicals. Then I would hit up a pop up in town, or go shopping at a local store like Root General or the Shoppe at the Avenue. For dinner and drinks there are quite a few options that are amazing, but some of my favorites are Annex Kitchen, The Modernist, and Quail State. Then you can hit up one of our amazing breweries (we have a lot) like Tioga Sequoia or head to Saint Joaquin for some natural wine and live jazz to end the night. And by visiting all of these locations, you aren’t only having a wonderful day, but supporting all the amazing local businesses in our community.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First of all, I am so incredibly thankful to my family for going on this crazy adventure with me. They support me when I have my business scattered around the house and when I am busy with events and workshops. Thank you! I couldn’t do it without your love and support.

Second, I am so thankful to the welcoming creative community of the Central Valley of California. We have such an amazing and supportive creative commuity here who welcomed me with opened arms years ago. I have made some very special friends through my business and am so thankful for all the encouragement through all the ups and downs of owning a small business. I am also so thankful for my customers and wholesalers who believe in what I do and support it wholeheartedly. Thank you!!! I couldn’t be here without you.

And lastly, I want to thank the natural dye community. I started by learning through Rebecca Desnos, author of Botanical Colour at your Fingertips. I read this book and was hooked. Through social media I have met some amazing business friends who are encouraging and help me grow in this natural dye world. I love learning and these dyers continue to push me and encourage me through my craft. Thank you!

Website: www.smithandlen.com

Instagram: @smith.and.len

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smith.and.len

Other: Tik Tok @smithandlen

Image Credits
Devyn B Photo Brooke Luallen