The Dyeing Process

Our process of herbal dyeing was developed through extensive research on age-old dyeing methods practised since the days of the Indus Valley civilization. The process of herbal dyeing starts with the grey cloth passing through several stages of treatment before it becomes colourful and ready to wear. During this entire treatment, only natural processes are used. Chemical dyeing processes use over 8000 different chemicals in its various stages. As high as 40 times the weight of the fabric, water is required to process the same. Most of the so-called eco-friendly dyeing or LOW impact dyeing available on organic as well as conventional cotton is still being dyed by using huge amounts of chemicals and dyes but in permissible limits. Thus they may be LOW impact but certainly not NO impact. 

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DESIZING

The washing of processed greige cloth starts with removing sizing, gums and oils used in the course of weaving by washing with natural mineral-rich water and sea salts. 

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SCOURING

Scouring is a vital part of the process in order to prepare the fabric for even and consistent dyeing. We use Soda Ash in boiling water where fabric is treated for several hours before moving to the next process.

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MORDANTING

To make the colours bright and fast, natural mordants such as myrobalan, rhubarb leaves, oils, minerals, alum, iron vat etc are used. We do not use heavy metal mordants like copper, chrome, zinc, tin etc. 

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DYEING

Herbal dyes are almost solely plant based, using components such as flowers, roots, leaves, seeds, peels, etc. We try our best to use only that part of the plant which is considered a waste or is growing wild and organic in nature and has medicinal properties, such as the peels of pomegranate, onions and myraballam. 

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FINISHING

 In herbal dyeing, finishing is done by sprinkling pure water on the cloth and then stretching under pressure, using hand rolls, aloe vera, castor oil etc.

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RECYCLING

Plant Solid and liquid waste is separated through the process of filtration and used for farming purposes as manure and for watering the fields. The discharged water or the solid waste do not contain any harmful chemical.