Plant Dyeing

A traditional dyeing technique that uses natural pigments extracted from plant leaves, stems, branches, roots, fruits, bark, etc. to dye threads and fabrics. Until the late 19th century, when chemical dyes were developed and spread, many clothes and fabrics around the world were dyed with these plants. The colour development varies greatly depending on the type of plant used, the part of the plant that is harvested, the temperature and soaking time of the dye solution, the choice of mordants and their order, and the compatibility with the fabric, resulting in diverse and deep shades.

In addition to those derived from plants, MITTAN also includes natural dyes derived from insects such as cochineal and lac in the broad definition of plant dyeing. Both dyes are obtained from natural resources and do not use chemicals, which reduces the burden on the environment, but it is also true that the dyeing process requires a lot of water and fuel, which creates another burden. The fixing power of the dye is gentler than that of synthetic dyes, and the colour changes gradually, but you can enjoy the changes for a long time.