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Natural Dyes vs. synthetic dyes
 

‘No chemical dye has the lustre, that under-glow of rich colour, that delicious aromatic smell, that soft light and shadow that gives so much pleasure to the eye. These colours are alive.’ Violetta Thurston.

Natural dyes produce an extraordinary diversity of rich and complex colours that combine well with each other. Dyeing is quite different from painting. When you paint, you attach the pigment to the surface of the material, but when you dye, the colour must penetrate the fibre.

Advantages of natural dyes

• High diversity of rich and complex colours
• Different colours go well together and rarely clash
• Beauty of the results
• Excitement of unexpected results
• Satisfaction of growing your own dye plants
• Self-sufficiency if growing your own plants
• Not dependent on non-renewable materials
• Allow for endless experimentation
• Allow the replication of ancient techniques

Disadvantages of natural dyes

• Require large quantities in comparison to chemical dyes. However, many natural dyes are sold as extracts and small amounts of cochineal, brazilwood and logwood dye a large amount of fibre
• Longer time required for dyeing. However, if you are using the sun as an energy source, you can leave the dye vat unattended for a long time
• May be more costly - but the main cost is your time if you grow your own.

Synthetic Dyes

• Require more calculation and precise measurements
• Require a great deal of skill to find colours that go well together
• Colours often look garish
• Good chemical dyes are more resistant to fading than natural dyes
• Produce quick results that can be repeated accurately

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Website and photos by Mike Roberts                 © 2006-08 WildColours
Page last updated 19 November 2008