From Sketch to Snake Dress: The Story Behind Rosy Snakes
A snake dress doesn't have to be fierce. Our Rosy Snakes print takes one of fashion's boldest motifs and softens it with flowers, leaves and a whole lot of personality. Here's how a few pencil sketches became one of our favorite prints of the season.
It started as a drawing
Rosy Snakes began on paper, not on a screen. Our artist sketched the snake again and again, coiling it, uncoiling it and trying out new curves. Each round added a little more: a leaf here, a tiny flower there, and eventually a sweet little face.
The final snake wears its garden along its back. Blooms and vines trail down its body, turning a creature most people side-eye into something you'd want to wear all day. What begins as a sketch finds its ssstrength in a sweet, ssserpentine textile.
That hand-drawn quality is the point. You can see the artist's line in every snake. It's a floral snake print with warmth and wit, in rosy pink on a deep cobalt blue.
Why satin-finish cotton
A print this detailed needs the right canvas. Rosy Snakes is printed on 100% cotton with a sateen finish, which gives it a soft sheen and makes colors look rich and crisp.
It feels smooth against your skin and breathes like cotton should. It also holds structure, so a skirt keeps its swing and a collar keeps its shape. And it's dressy enough for a wedding or an office, but easy enough for a farmers market.
Designed with our partners in mind
At Mata Traders, a print isn't designed in isolation. Each piece is created with a specific fair trade production partner in mind. Our design team works with that partner's printing strengths and limits from the very first sketch.
Taylor McCleneghan, Mata's Owner and Director, walked through the making of the Rosy Snakes Lucille Dress on episode 139 of the How Fitting podcast with Alison Hoenes. Reflecting on that collaboration, she said:
"I continue to just be amazed at what people can create together."
That's the heart of fair trade fashion. The process matters as much as the product, from the artist's sketch to the hands that print, cut and sew it. Listen to the full episode to get into every detail.
Meet the Rosy Snakes collection
Rosy Snakes comes in five pieces, so you can go all in or add just a touch of serpentine charm.
The Lucille Dress (XS–3X). Our best seller, now in its most playful print. The Lucille is a curve-flattering fit and flare dress with pockets, with a V-neck and a full midi skirt. Over seven years, Mata has refined its fit using feedback from customers and the boutiques that carry it. If you want one snake dress that goes from a conference to a cocktail party, this is it. It's also our plus size snake dress, with sizes up to 3X.
The Camp Dress ( XS–XL). A relaxed, collared shirt dress with short sleeves. Wear it with sneakers on Saturday and loafers on Monday.
The Emma Skirt ( XS–XL). A swingy midi skirt that lets the print do the talking. Pair it with a solid knit top and a cardigan for fall.
The Camp Shirt (XS–3X). The easiest way to wear the print. Tuck it into jeans, or layer it open over a tank.
Finish the look with the Collins Jacket). Two jackets in one: Rosy Snakes cotton on one side, navy mid-wale corduroy on the other. Enclosed seams in contrasting binding mean it looks finished either way. It has pockets inside and out, and it's easy to cuff and layer. Wear the print side out with solids, or flip to corduroy over your Lucille or Emma Skirt.
How to style a snake dress
- For work: the Lucille with a navy blazer and pointed flats
- For weekends: the Camp Dress with sneakers and a denim jacket
- For fall: the Emma Skirt with a burgundy knit, tights and ankle boots
- For events: the Lucille with heeled sandals and a statement earring
Wear a print with a story
Every Rosy Snakes piece carries the work of an artist, a design team and a fair trade production partner who made it with care. It's a snake dress you'll reach for again and again, and one you'll love telling people about when the compliments come.
Shop the Rosy Snakes collection · Learn more about who makes Mata · Browse all our vintage fit and flare dresses
What is the Rosy Snakes print? Rosy Snakes is an original, hand-drawn floral snake print. It shows rosy pink snakes decorated with flowers and leaves on a deep blue background, printed on 100% cotton with a sateen finish.
What is satin-finish cotton? Rosy Snakes is 100% cotton with a sateen finish, which gives the fabric a smooth surface and a soft sheen. It makes printed colors look rich, feels smooth on the skin, breathes like cotton and holds its shape.
Does the Rosy Snakes snake dress come in plus sizes? Yes. The Lucille Dress in Rosy Snakes comes in sizes XS–3X, and the Camp Shirt does too. The Camp Dress and Emma Skirt come in XS–XL.
Does the Lucille snake dress have pockets? Yes. The Lucille is a fit and flare midi dress with a V-neck and pockets.
Is Rosy Snakes fair trade? Yes. Like every Mata Traders piece, Rosy Snakes is designed in Chicago and made by fair trade production partners. Mata designs each piece with a specific partner's skills and printing methods in mind.
How do I style a snake print dress? Keep the rest of the outfit simple and let the print lead. Navy, burgundy and cream all pull from the palette. Try a blazer for work, sneakers for weekends, or tights and boots in fall.