Plant-based dyes take longer. The results are worth every hour.
Some of our colours are achieved through natural plant-based dyes. They take longer, cost more, and vary slightly between batches. That variation isn't a defect — it's a signature. No two garments are exactly alike. Neither are the people who wear them.
What are natural dyes and how are they used in clothing?
Natural dyes are pigments extracted from plants, minerals, or insects — as opposed to synthetic dyes derived from petroleum. Common natural dye sources include indigo (blue), madder root (red/pink), weld (yellow), and walnut hulls (brown). The dyeing process requires careful preparation of the fabric (mordanting) to ensure colour permanence. It's slower, more labour-intensive, and more expensive than synthetic dyeing. The payoff is colour with depth and character that synthetics can't replicate.
Do natural dyes fade over time?
All dyes fade with light exposure and washing — natural and synthetic. However, natural dyes tend to fade gracefully, shifting in tone rather than washing out to a flat, lifeless version of the original colour. A naturally dyed garment at year five has a different beauty than at year one — evolved, not degraded. This graceful ageing is one of the most appreciated qualities of naturally dyed textiles.
Are natural dyes more sustainable than synthetic dyes?
Synthetic textile dyeing is one of the most polluting processes in the fashion industry, responsible for roughly 20% of global industrial water pollution. Natural dyes, when processed correctly, produce biodegradable waste and use significantly less water. They're not perfect — mordants can include heavy metals if not carefully chosen — but the environmental profile is substantially better than conventional synthetic dyeing.
Slight variation between garments is the signature of a natural process. Uniformity is what machines produce. Character is what nature produces.