From Hats to Indigo: Leigh Magar's Creative Journey

Leigh Magar, a celebrated milliner turned textile artist, died on April 16 at her home in Kauai, Hawaii. She was 57 and had been battling breast cancer. Magar was known for her "seed-to-stitch" approach, growing her own indigo and using it to create unique garments and artworks.

Before her work with indigo, Magar designed elaborate hats from her Charleston studio, selling them at high-end boutiques and dressing celebrities like Eartha Kitt and Michael Stipe. Her creations were often described as fanciful and sculptural.

In 2013, Magar shifted her focus to textiles, hand-dyeing fabrics with botanicals. She later moved to Johns Island, S.C., where she discovered the historical significance of indigo cultivation, which involved enslaved Africans. Magar addressed this history in her work, seeking to understand its full context.

Her passion for indigo deepened after finding wild indigo descendants on her property. She experimented with dyeing techniques like shibori and created various items, from dresses to quilts. Magar also explored other natural dyes, including dirt dyeing, shortly before her death.

Magar was born in Spartanburg, S.C., and had a varied artistic background, including culinary studies. She moved to New York to study millinery before returning to Charleston to establish her career. She is survived by her husband, Johnny Tucker, and other family members.