A natural dye a day
It was a project that I did during the free week that I had during lockdown because of COVID- 19 pandemic in which I tried experimenting with different materials around my surroundings to dye fabric.
This beautiful beige was obtained with walnut shells. Instead of purchasing dyestuff online I looked around my surroundings and came across a lot of stuff (more than 20) which had the potential of Coloring. I started with walnut shells and obtained this beautiful beige.
Fabrics used (from top left to bottom left)- silk by cotton, raw silk, chiffon, cotton
Bumblebee yellow- A color of optimism, youth and fresh energy. This color was obtained from mango leaves while I was searching for a green hue. Instead of achieving green I obtained this beautiful color "bumblebee".
Fabrics (from top left to bottom left): Silk by cotton, Raw silk, Cotton, Chiffon.
Fabrics (from top left to bottom left): Silk by cotton, Raw silk, Cotton, Chiffon.
Working with natural dyes can be surprising. I obtained these shades of green from the flowers of "Gulmohar". Gulmohar just like amaltas is one of the most common flowering tree that can be seen anywhere on the streets of India. It is also considered as one of the most beautiful tree in the world.
Fabrics (From top to bottom): Raw Silk - Hunter Green, Silk by Cotton- Tea Green
Fabrics (From top to bottom): Raw Silk - Hunter Green, Silk by Cotton- Tea Green
Onion skins or peels is one of the most common dyeing material that can be found in your kitchen. They are very easy and quick to dye and produces beautiful and vibrant shades of yellow to greenish yellow with golden onion peels and slightly orange to pink with red onion peels.
Fabrics (from top to bottom left): Cotton , Silk by Cotton, Chiffon
Fabrics (from top to bottom left): Cotton , Silk by Cotton, Chiffon
Tea- Again one of the easiest dye to try and which can be easily procured from the kitchen. It will give different shades from browns to ochres and orange.
One can try different brands and types of tea to achieve different shades and the best thing is that the process of mordanting can be skipped with this one because it is rich in tannins which act as mordant in itself.
One can try different brands and types of tea to achieve different shades and the best thing is that the process of mordanting can be skipped with this one because it is rich in tannins which act as mordant in itself.
Fabrics (from left to right): Chiffon, Viscose, Raw Silk
Henna- Quite popular name in Indian households and commonly used to make designs on hands or to dye hair. It is also used to dye fabrics specially wool, silk and leather.It produces shades ranging from green, orange and red. Colors obtained on fabrics will change as per the composition of fabric and the type of mordant that is used.
Fabrics (from top left to bottom left): Cotton, Viscose, Chiffon, Raw Silk, Silk by Cotton
Terminalia Arjuna or simply Arjuna tree is a commonly found tree growing along river banks in India. It is not only used for dyeing fabrics but is a well- known medicine in Ayurveda to cure heart diseases.When used for dyeing it produces shades from beige to dark brown with red undertones.
Fabrics (from top left to bottom left): Chiffon, Cotton, Silk by Cotton, Raw Silk, Viscose.
Fabrics (from top left to bottom left): Chiffon, Cotton, Silk by Cotton, Raw Silk, Viscose.
