When we live in a world surrounded by beautiful natural shades, why do we opt to create artificial colours to paint or dye our fabrics; aren't we paving the way for chemical dyes to destroy our planet slowly by doing so?
We create chemical dyes and use them massively to dye our products. However, when made and used, we do not realise that these dyes discharge harmful chemicals into the air and the water, hence not allowing the light to penetrate and causing the destruction of plants and leaving us with less oxygen. It imbalances the entire ecosystem and destroys it, including us humans, so why pursue it when we have a much better, safe, and beautiful way of dyeing our fabrics?
Yes, a better option is called natural dyes. Natural dyes are acquired from nature; it doesn't harm the environment, the creator and the wearer. The best part about a natural dye is it can be easily created and dyed at home without any supervision or the presence of an expert. You can dye your product with your desired shade and protect the environment simultaneously.
To naturally dye the fabrics and products, we have used shades of petal dyeing kit.
This dyeing kit includes:
1. Madder for peaches and reds
2. Alum for mordanting
3. Sappan wood for pink
4. Ferrous to increase the intensity of colours.
The best part of this dyeing kit is that you can either have fabrics or ready products to try your hand on natural dyes without any hassle.
- WE HAVE CHOSEN FABRICS AND CUT THEM INTO FOUR PIECES.
- WE USED TWO DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES ON OUR FABRICS.
• TIE AND DYE
- FOLD THE FABRIC INTO FOUR PARTS
- DRAW RANDOM WAVES
- STITCH ON THE WAVES KEEPING ONE SIDE OF THE STITCH LINE LOCKED.
- PULL THE THREAD FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WAVE AND TIE IT TIGHTLY.
-LOCK THE ONE SIDE OF THE STITCHING WITH THE KNOT AND LEAVE OTHER SIDE OPEN TO PULL
- FOLD THE FABRIC IN THREE HALF AND MAKE THE ACCORDION FOLD FOR THE REST.
- PUT THE SPOON ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE FABRIC IN AN ALIGNED MANNER.
- TIE THE SPOONS WITH THREAD TIGHTLY
- FOLD THE FABRIC INTO SIX PARTS, FORMING A RECTANGULAR SHAPE.
- WRAP IT AROUND A STICK OR A PVC PIPE.
- LOCK BOTH THE CORNERS WITH A THREAD
- NOW ROLL A THREAD ON A SECTION OF FABRIC AND PUSH IT UPWARDS.
- DO THE SAME FOR THE REST OF THE FABRIC.
- FOLD THE FABRIC INTO FOUR PARTS, AND KEEP THE FOLDS RECTANGULAR.
- DO THE STICHES IN A ZIK ZAK MANNER.
- EACH FOLD OF THE STITCHING WILL KEEP OPEN FROM ONE SIDE AND TIED FROM ANOTHER.
- LOCK THE ONE SIDE OF THE STITCHING WITH THE KNOT AND LEAVE THE OTHER SIDE OPEN TO PULL
HERE, HOW THESE FABRICS LOOK AFTER TYING.
NOW PUT THESE TIED FABRICS IN AN ALUM BATH; WE HAVE TAKEN 10% ALUM TO THE WEIGHT OF THE MATERIAL. KEEP IT IN ALUM FOR AROUND 30 MINS, THEN TAKE THEM OUT AND WASH WITH COLDWATER.
NOW WE PREPARED THE DYE BATH AND TOOK 20% MADDER TO THE WEIGHT OF THE FABRIC AND 1% FERROUS. THEN, FINALLY, WE COMBINED THEM IN THE HOT DYE BATH.
AFTER 30 MINS, SIEVE THE DYE BATH AND ADD THE FABRIC; STIR THEM WELL FOR 25 MINS.
WE TOOK 25% OF SAPPAN WOOD AND 5 % FERROUS FOR ANOTHER COLOUR.
WE FOLLOWED THE SAME PROCESS AS WE DID FOR THE MADDER BATH.
TIE AND DYE
ISN'T IT SOUL-SATISFYING TO SEE THE DYEING RESULTS AND KNOW THAT WE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT BY NOT CAUSING IT ANY HARM IN THE CREATION PROCESS?
We are also manufacturer of other fabrics like Denim, Kala Cotton Fabric, Ahimsa Silk Fabric, Ethical Recycled Cotton Fabric, Banana Fabric, Orange Fabric, Bamboo Fabric, Rose Fabric, Khadi Fabric etc.
Contact Suvetah for bulk natural dyeing on fabrics