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What is the concept of dye, and how is it relevant in the world of textiles?
Fabric dye, also known as fabric or textile colors, is a coloured substance, which enables the fibers and materials of the fabric to be coloured and tainted. These dyes bond themselves to the materials, and merge to change the color of the fabric to the added tints.
Fabric dyes are used extensively in the textile industry, to add variety, variation and increased options of different colored fabric and textiles, based on the customers choices, and consumer demands. In the modern world, many new shades and tints are in demand by the fashion industry, and dyes help the clothing mongols to satisfy these needs.
Details of the different dyes and the main differences:
Natural fabric dyes are usually divided into 3 different parts of categories. These are animal derived, plant based, or mineral dyes.
These dyes, as the name suggests, are derived from more natural substances such as plants, nature, animals and minerals, although the majority of these dyes that are used in today's modern fashion and textile industry are procured from vegetable dyes.
Firstly, plant derived dyes are extracted from roots, flowers, leaves, stems or even fruits of plants. In the past, plant based dyes like saffron, wood and indigo, were commercially produced and exported. India, under British rule, was a major producer of Indigo, and were exploited by the British for the same. They went from largest exporters of indigo, to being an importer of the same. Some example of the plants being used to derive a particular color are, saffron producing a rich golden hue, Catechu tree producing a brown or tan shade, Kamala tree producing a red dye, and so on.
Mineral dyes, that come second on the list, are mostly used in the production and shading of carpets. Minerals that are most used for this task are, ochre, an iron ore which helps derive yellow, brown nuances and even red. Manganese, another metallic element, helps produce black and shades of black that are used for the dye. One of the most regal colors come from Azurite, which is a blue/dark blue copper mineral and is formed as a product of oxidation and copper erosion. Lead, and Argonite are some more examples of dye producing minerals, which make red and colorless or white dyes, respectively.
Synthetic dyes are also known as artificial dyes, and we can gather from the name that it is the opposite of naturally derived dyes and substances. They are man-made, and the base materials used to derive the dyes are petro-chemicals, done so using the chemical processing of coal tar, or even oil processing stages.
The middle of the 19th century first saw this use and production of these dyes, and the initiation of these, led to the decline of both, the production and use of natural dyes.
The first synthetic dye that was created was discovered by William Perkin, in the year 1856, and was the color Mauve, also known as mauveine. It was discovered by accident, and soon led to people discovering how to create fuchsine, induline and even safranin. Since then, there have been over a thousand various types of dyes that are available.
These dyes can very easily be made in large quantities, and are suitable for the dyeing of fibers, especially the ones that are synthetic. The main chemicals that are found in these dyes would include lead,chromium, copper ,and sodium chloride along with mercury, and all of these can be heavily toxic if an individual is exposed to it in large quantities.
Natural vs Synthetic Dyes – what are the differences?
The advantages and disadvantages of the two kinds of dyes must be taken into consideration so as to help the individual make an informed choice and selection between the two.
- Intensity and Brightness: natural dyes are more muted in comparison to synthetic dyes, and the latter tends to produce a deeper color effect on the fabrics. Synthetic dyes are known to have a more stark look, whereas natural dyes give more earthy and subtle undertones of the shade.
- Color range: Synthetic dyes are known to have a more broadened color palette, a wider range of shades, that are brighter and more permanent than natural colors. The synthetic colors are more long lasting, which makes these artificial dyes more popular.
- Impact on the environment: Natural dyes, owing to its natural qualities, are less destructive and less harmful to the environment. Synthetic dyes tend to have harmful effects, even on the individual and factory workers that work in the textile industry, and also works as a pollutant, for both water and the environment.
- The chemical compounds that are used to create synthetic dyes, create fumes when they are worked with. The chemical fumes that are released are extremely toxic and detrimental to the people, and can cause respiratory illnesses among other ailments. Natural dyes are the much safer option as they are harmless, to both the workers and the environment at large.
- Prices and costs: of the natural dyes are much higher, and they are more expensive, with cochineal costs that are more per ounce than that of gold. On the contrary, synthetic dyes are much cheaper, as they are faster and easier to produce.
iTokri and Dyes:
iTokri has an array of fabrics and textiles that one can buy from, and they house a range of products from different artisanal backgrounds, styles, patterns, and prints. Since we host artisans and organizations that provide handicrafts and more authentic products, we have an extensive range of Natural Dyed Sarees on display from the most artisanal sources.
There are also some Bagh Block Print Natural Dyed Sarees of Madhya Pradesh, that use natural dyes and pigments to enhance their traditional designs. Natural dyes can similarly be used for many such other fabric designs and patterns.
FAQ’s
- What are fabric dyes?
Fabric dye, also known as fabric or textile colors, is a coloured substance, which enables the fibers and materials of the fabric to be coloured and tainted. These dyes bond themselves to the materials, and merge to change the color of the fabric to the added tints.
- How are natural dyes derived?
These dyes, as the name suggests, are derived from more natural substances such as plants, nature, animals and minerals, although the majority of these dyes that are used in today's modern fashion and textile industry are procured from vegetable dyes.
- What are synthetic dyes?
Synthetic dyes are also known as artificial dyes, and we can gather from the name that it is the opposite of naturally derived dyes and substances. They are man-made, and the base materials used to derive the dyes are petro-chemicals, done so using the chemical processing of coal tar, or even oil processing stages.
- What is the difference in the brightness of natural and synthetic dyes?
Natural dyes are more muted in comparison to synthetic dyes, and the latter tends to produce a deeper color effect on the fabrics. Synthetic dyes are known to have a more stark look, whereas natural dyes give more earthy and subtle undertones of the shade.
- Which dyes are cheaper?
Natural dyes are higher in prices than synthetic dyes, hence synthetic dyes are the cheaper option.
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