Natural dyes

Natural dyes are those extracted from the natural resources sucg as plants, animals,
minerals as well as microbial sources like fungi and lichens. These dyes have been
in use since years, although in yearly ages the dyes used lacked in substantivity and
iron salts called mordants were used for increasing it, some dyes has good
substantivity with cotton and wool but they involved difficult processes . Although
the dyes like indigo, tyrian purple (classified as vat dyes) does not require
modrants and were wore by royal sector in ancient egypt, sources like al root ,
manjistha, safflower and indigo , there is an organized cultivation because of their
peculiarity. Increased acreage is devoted to al root and safflower cultivation purely
because of their dye qualities.

Today extraction of natural dyes has become a challenge to meet the demands of
the consumers. New means of dyes have been in consideration to be extracted.
Some very known natural dyes include madder which is the oldest and most
frequently used dye stuff through which fabric are dyes. Turkish red, cohineal red
dye, obtained from and insect and the core element of this is carmic acid. Indigo
color which is extracted from a plant woad and is highly in demand these days.
Chamomile, that grows throughout north America, used in Turkish carpet.
Chestnut that due a warm brown color and is known for its ability to dye silk black
with addition of logwood and iron mordant. Cutch extract that contain catechu dye
compound.

Although the synthetic dyes have been ruling the market but the natural dyes hold
their own worth not only because of their quality and luster but also property like
being renewable and biodegradable for farmers and the textile industries with the
consumer trends for ethnic fabric. It is a misapprehension that natural dyes can
only produce beiges and other washed out shades but in reality bright and striking ,
fast natural colors can be produced from natural dyes.

After domestic experimentation modern cultivation system of natural dyes for

getting maximum yield of dyes optimal seeding and optimal fertilization
procedures are being used. Many new plant sources have been explored for the
extraction of natural dyes. PS Vankar (2017 ) has listed some natural dyes for
cotton which are as under:

 Acacia Arabica bark

Plant: Acacia arabica
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Acacia
Part used: bark

 Mahonia napaulensis DC
Plant: Mahonia napaulensis
Family: Berberidaceae
Genus: Mahonia
Part used: stem

 Salvia splendens
Plant: Salvia splendens
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Part used: flower (red)
 Canna indica
Plant: Canna indica
Family: Cannaceae
Genus: Canna
Part used: flower (red)
 Rhododendron arboreum
Plant: Rhododendron arboreum
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Part used: flower (red)

 Cosmos sulphureus
Plant: Cosmos sulphureus
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Cosmos
Part used: flower (mustard color)

 Terminalia arjuna
Plant: Terminalia arjuna
Family: Combretaceae
Genus: Terminalia
Part used: bark
 Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi Leaves)
Plant: Ocimum sanctum
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Ocimum
Part used: leaves
 Rubia cordifolia Linn.
Plant: Rubia cordifolia
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Rubia