Most colors come from specific pigments within plants. These special plants help us to color fabric in incredible ways. This process is called plant dyeing, and it’s a fun and creative way to make our clothes look pretty. And it safeguards our ecosystem and builds a healthy environment. At Bornature, we believe clothing shouldn't just be stylish, it should be good for the earth — and that's why we love building plant dyes into our materials!
Have you noticed the colors surrounding you in nature? Think about it! There are variety of shades in leaves, flowers and fruits! Different colours of these beautiful can let the fabric to have a special touch. Plant Dyeing is an incredible way to colour cloth using natural materials, instead of the chemicals that may harm our Earth and life that comes with it.
In the past, the majority of the clothes used chemicals to be dyed in a way that weren’t beneficial to our planet. But increasingly, people are realizing it’s better to use plant-based dyes instead. That is a big improvement since plant-based dyes are derived from plants that can be regrown and harvested repeatedly! This way we are able to continuously create beautiful colors without giving strain to the planet.
Plant- based dyes are also better for the environment since they cause significantly less pollution. Chemical dyes have to be washed out with water, and that water can be dangerous if released into rivers or oceans. Plant-based dyes, in contrast, do not generate as much waste, so they’re gentler on the air and also help keep our water clean.
Fabric dyeing using plants has been practised by people for thousands of years! Native Americans extracted colors from plants such as black walnut and elderberry, which produced a wonderful palette of designs on their clothing. Many, many years ago in India, people were dyeing silk with turmeric and saffron. There is so much tradition and history behind how plant dyeing is done, it is amazing to think about!
Plus, when you are wearing plant-dyed clothes, you are caring for the environment! You look great in your colorful clothes, and you're helping decrease pollution. Plant-based dyes are mostly biodegradable, meaning they will decompose over time. This is in stark contrast to chemical dyes, which can take centuries to leave our soil and water.
Dyeing with plants is a gentle craft that takes practice, serendipity, and intuition. After boiling the fresh cut plant material and releasing its dye, you can then soak the fabric into that dye for hours to achieve the most beautiful colors. Depending on the color you’re looking for, the fabric may require several hours of soaking time, or even days, to achieve the perfect shade.
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