Earth Women is an ongoing series celebrating those who inspire us through the way they live, create, and connect with the Earth — honoring the deep relationship between nature, creativity, and self-expression.

Photography by Georgia Hilmer

Cara is wearing the Stella Low Cut Bra and Onder Skirt in the colour Earth.

"You can grip tightly to ideas you think you have, but the only thing constant in this life is change & chance. I think that’s ultimately beautiful"

Cara Marie Piazza is a natural dyer and textile artist based in New York City. Her work is rooted in ritual, transformation, and deep connection to the natural world, using botanicals, minerals, and food waste to tell stories through cloth. We spent the afternoon with Cara in her New York studio to talk about finding beauty in the overlooked, surrendering to the cycles of nature, and the rituals that bring her back to herself.

Can you tell us how your journey into natural dyeing began?

I feel as though the medium chose me. I first was introduced to natural dyes at University, when I was studying at the Chelsea College of Art and Design. I was mesmerized by the way color came from plants, it felt like an ancestral truth I had forgotten that connected us back to our nature. 

Are there certain plants you feel especially drawn to work with?

Plants that are deemed invasive or weeds are of particular interest. We often label plants “invasive” whose purpose or use we might not understand. By reimagining their nuisance as an advantage - we can work with their abundant nature. Natural dyes are extractive, so when trying to work sustainably, it’s important to consider resources. 

How does your process change with the seasons?

This depends on my clients work, as we work with extracts that are luckily shelf stable all year long. Certain surface design patterns like eco - printing ( steaming plant material into fabric to make contact prints ), will vary seasonally depending on the plants that are available during the summer months. I am based in New York City, so we run on a North Eastern growing season in zone 7. 

How does the natural world inspire your art/work/life?

It’s my entire practice. We aren’t separate from the natural world. But the green beckons me to notice, learn how to listen & observe. Being from New York, raised in an urban environment - I have always been fascinated by the green that seems to find its way through the concrete. An act of resilience. Calling us to find patience, be adaptable, mimic her patterns. Recently I've been drawn to appreciating her chaos, and the destructive aspects of nature, finding the magic deep down in the dirt and the compost. Noticing all the cycles and trying to capture the atrophy and transformations that are inevitable. 

Cara is wearing the Charlotte Crop Top and Mila Flares in the colour Earth.

What lessons has the natural world taught you about growth and transformation?

To surrender. You can grip tightly to ideas you think you have, but the only thing constant in this life is change & chance. I think that’s ultimately beautiful. Have you ever seen a butterfly being born? It’s disgusting, a violent gooey process. But what emerges on the other side is gorgeous. You can’t be afraid of that darkness or the obliteration. Or, you can be afraid, but you can go for it anyway. 

What rituals or daily practices bring you back into alignment with yourself?

I think I am constantly editing and evolving my ritual practices, but currently it’s a silent morning. No phone for the first two hours of the day, coffee, writing morning pages and then some form of movement whether stretching, yoga or a class. I am working on being embodied and feeling into what all those juicy parts of myself are craving. Sometimes that’s just lying and listening. 

How was your journey from girlhood into womanhood? Were there any rites of passage, moments, or experiences that felt like an initiation for you?

Truthfully, I think it was brutal. I wish that societally we had more experiences that marked this transition in a way that honored this passage. At 36, I now feel like a woman, but this truly took a lot of time for me to feel embodied in my womanhood, in my capacity and authenticity to have boundaries, and take ownership of my responsibilities. 

What practices or rituals help you feel most at home in your body?

Dance, movement and yoga. Massage, touch, great sex. I’m a corporal being.

Cara is wearing the Stella Low Cut Bra and Onder Skirt in the colour Earth.

Are there women in your life or lineage who have shaped the way you move through the world?

So many, my mother and grandmother’s. My friendships. My sister. I feel very blessed to have strong positive relationships that I feel at home with. 

What are your favorite HARA pieces and why?

My favorite Hara pieces are the Stella Bra & Eva G-string, I love the support and comfort of these pieces.

Cara's Earth Woman Playlist

I. Beginning to End – Hendyamps Studio, Aimee Norris
II. Like a Prayer – King Hannah
III. Like You're God – mehro
IV. Teeth – Mallrat
V. For You (Many Selves Version) – Kadhja Bonet
VI. Pull Up – Yaya Bey
VII. Feels Right – Biig Piig
VIII. La Combi Versace – Rosalía
IX. Take Your Vibes and Go – Kito, Kahlo, Brazy & Baauer
X. Save a Kiss – Jessie Ware

Listen on Spotify.

Follow Cara Marie Piazza and Georgia Hilmer.