India looks at replacing synthetic dyes with natural ones

13 Aug '12

3 min read

Block printing with natural colourants

While emphasizing on the usage of natural dyes for dyeing and printing of textiles, she adds, “These natural coloring solutions were earlier confined to craft painters, dyers and printers only. Recently, some commercial dyers and small business houses have started looking at the possibilities of using natural dyes for painting, dyeing and printing of textiles. Natural dye sources play an important role in dyeing and printing process of agro and animal based fibres.”

Dr. Mahale points at the limited knowledge that the people have about the available resources of fabric dyes. She says, “There is a dearth of information on these lines. Many other sources, which yield natural dyes, are not known and are not collected and utilized. Hence, the unexplored sources are left without utilization. Plants that give color are also associated with curative properties. Hence they are popular as medicinal plants rather than coloring matters.”

She stresses on the importance of bringing consumers and producers together for reviving the old process of coloring fabrics with naturally extracted dyes. She avers, “The whole process, with a little effort can replace at least few synthetic dyes on textiles.”

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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