How are natural dyes made?

Natural dyes, such as indigo, tannin and madder have been used since the beginning of recorded history. As more and more people become aware of the impact of chemicals on our environment, we are seeing a renewed interest in natural dyes. These natural dyes come from fruits, leaves, roots, bark and even insect larva.

In Indonesia, traditional colors are derived from indigenous plants such as indigo, beet root, iron wood, coconut, mangostine, beetle nut and turmeric. These plants are first ground with a mortar and pestle and can be used in their raw form or dried to produce a powder that can be stored for later use.

In order for these dyes to adhere, the fabric must be soaked in mordant prior to dying. The mordant allows the dyes to become colorfast. The natural mordents which are environmentally safe are soda ash, alum, vinegar, cream of tartar, lime, and sodium.
These mordant soaked fibers are simmered in pots of natural dye and water at medium to low temperatures for a specific amount of time, depending on the effect desired.

It is good to understand and appreciate that each dye batch will have it's own unique characteristics, which may vary depending on climate, processing techniques and storage conditions. It is part of the creative process to allow the mystery of each natural dye to reveal its unique colors to you.