Tie-dye is a fabric dyeing technique that creates colorful patterns by twisting, folding, or crumpling the fabric and securing it with rubber bands or string. The areas that are tied off resist the dye, resulting in unique designs when the fabric is submerged in dye solutions. This method is often used on cotton, rayon, and other absorbent materials. The origins of tie-dye can be traced back to ancient cultures, including those in India and Japan, where similar techniques were used for centuries. In the 1960s, tie-dye became popular in Western culture, especially among counterculture movements, symbolizing peace and creativity.