Demonstration: Natural Dyes

Name of the Department: Fashion & Textiles

Name of the Activity: Demonstration on “NaturalDyes”

Date:06th December, 2022

Venue: A 401

No. of Participants: 37 students (B.sc Fashion Design:SEM I and III)

02 students (M.A/M.Sc./M.Com Fashion Design: SemIII)

Objective of the activity (workshop):The main aimof the workshop was to inform the students about the importance of natural dying to clothes.

Description:

The Department of Fashion & Textiles organized a One-Day Skill Based Workshop on ‘Natural Dyeing on 06th December, 2022.The workshop was conducted by Ms. Saloni Gupta, Ms. KratiModi, Ms. VidhiKhandelwal& Ms. Saloni Jain, Students of B.Sc.Vthsemester.

The participants were first taught about natural dyes. The word "natural dye “covers all the dyes derived from the natural sources like roots, stems, barks, leaves, fruits andseeds may contain colouring matter which can be extract through differentmethod.

Demonstrators pointed out that there is something almost magical about using truly organic ingredients that are sourced from the natural environment to make our own dyes. Natural dyes can produce various shades of colour with various mordents. Firstly, demonstrators scoured the fabric for increasing the dye absorbency and removing the dust, dirt, and other particles, and after that, they scoured fabric treated with harda for increasing the affinity of the natural dye. For dyeing, they have used gudhal, kesula, kattha,andratanjotdyes. They have used already extracted dye (for extraction, they crushed or ground the dye and soaked it in water for 24 hours and then filtered the dye). Demonstrators add water and dye to another beaker according to the weight of the fabric and the dye shade. Simultaneously they have add the mordant (Alum) for increasing the colour fastness of the dye.

Complete dyeing process have been done at 90°C temperature over 1 hour.  Dyed fabric should be allowed to cool slowly in the dye bath and then washed with normal water.

 

The participants were asked to bring out their creativity so that participants can make their own block printing products by using natural dyes. The workshop ended with a discussion andfeedback session.

Outcome of the activity:

The students obtained a good technical understanding of the mordanting processes and the varied uses of such dyes as gudhal, kesula, kattha,ratanjot, and many others.