Plant dyes for fabric

[Guest guest]

On Wed, 21 Jul 1999, COM: Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius) wrote:

 

> [Text 2493346 from COM]

>

> Can anyone give me information on the process of extracting dye from plant

> material, and if it requires any stabilisation or anything. I guess that

> each plant has different characteristics, but maybe there are some general

> principles?

>

> Are there any easy ways of identifying plants which have dye properties?

> Being here in Mauritius, I would imagine that many of the books available on

> the market, would not necesarily cover plants here, and I am not aware if

> there are any local plants identified for this purpose. I guess we could

> grow foreign varieties though.

>

> Any suggestions?

>

> Thanks

>

> YS Samba das

 

When Mrs. Garland gave her herb presentation, she pointed out many plants

which create good dyes. Eventually she revealed that most plants with

yellow flowers will make some type of yellow or gold pigment for dyeing

fabric (or basket materials -- she had woven her own baskets using some

dyed pieces).

 

Many green plants are a good source of green.

 

The difficult colors are reds and blues -- which is why woad (for red) and

indigo (for blue) became such important crops for a certain period -- and

why in Western culture, only royalty wore blue for a long period of

history.

 

She explained that she was fermenting a batch of lichen (a pale green moss

that grows on rocks) in an attempt to obtain a pink dye, after having read

about the process.

 

She also pointed out to Rohita and Phalguna a certain shelf fungus and

said they could process it to produce saffron-colored dye -- but she may

have been joking with them, I'm not sure.

 

One thing I would say is that if you are interested in plant dyes, it

might still be worthwhile to get ahold of a book on plant-based dyes.

Just learning the principles, you could experiment and apply them to what

you have locally.

 

Another very important point is to make full use of local people who have

knowledge. When Phalguna asked about developing a curriculum centered

around using plants for self-sufficiency, Mrs. Garland emphasized the

importance of finding local people from indigenous groups in the area

where you are and going to them for knowledge. She said often the elderly

people have this knowledge, but no one is interested. They are delighted

when someone comes and speaks to them with respect and is enthusiastic to

learn what they have to share.

 

We were very lucky that my son happened to come in contact with Mrs.

Garland, who grew up without electricity in a remote community in northern

Maine, and who also has Micmac Indian ancestors -- so she has a range of

self-sufficiency skills, which she has added to over the years by her

study of ethno-botany (the study of how plants are used in different

cultures).

 

But, there are thousands of talented people around the world. Krsna has

given them a wealth of knowledge, and when we approach them with our

questions, it opens up preaching opportunities.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi