What are natural dyes?

Natural dyes are dyes derived directly from the living world – often plants, though some dyes come from insects, lichens, fungi, and historically, mollusks.

Colour is coaxed from these materials with a variety of methods and then bonded to fibres with the use of a mordant – compounds which create a stronger bond between dye and fibre, and allow for a wider palette of colours. The results can be bold or subtle, warm or cool, and rarely do they clash against each other.

Owing to the fact that even simple natural dyes contain more than one colour compound, they also possess a richness and depth which sets them apart from their synthetic counterparts.

Why use natural dyes?

Chemically, dyes sourced this way are more variable than lab made synthetic dyes, and season, age, and environmental factors can impact the exact colour they produce. Because of this, natural dyes can be said to have a terroir, and thought of as not only a source of colour, but also a rich record of their exact origin and processing methods.

We specialize in working with these materials because they are continually exciting and rewarding to work with. Using natural dyes is a kind of alchemy. Situated squarely between art and science, it requires patience and understanding as much as it requires creativity and vision.

In short, we work with natural dyes because they continually call us back again.

Don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact information below, or send a message via the form.

When looking for a quote, the most important information is fibre type, weight of material, and approximate desired hue.

email: liam (at) ironcauldron.ca