Natural dyes have a long and rich history in cultures throughout the world, representing centuries of art and craftsmanship. With the advent of synthetic dyes, beginning with the discovery of mauvine in 1856, the plant dye industry was driven to near extinction.

Many fiber artists have always recognized the beauty of natural dyes but many more are taking a new look as we transition into a greater concern for our environment. Eco-friendly plant dyes are bio-degradable and a renewable resource and we now have a much better understanding of which dye mordants are safe and which are more toxic to our environment.

Natural dyes have a beauty and depth of color that cannot quite be obtained with synthetics. Chemical colors tend to be harder and sharper and so need to be carefully color matched while it is often said that the warm, soothing naturally dyed colors display harmony in any combination and become even more beautiful with age.

Synthetic dyes have evolved into a wide range of beautiful shades, they are less expensive and some are less toxic than in the past, although most have a non-renewable petro-chemical base. There needs to be a continued effort and focus on making synthetic dyes more environmentally friendly since they will probably continue to be the choice in most of the textile industry. It is possible, though, to use natural plant dyes in the textile industry and there is likely a growing market for such products. Our supplier of natural dyes has been working towards making this a more viable alternative.

But for the fiber artist and craftperson, natural plant dyes are a great choice. On a small scale the cost difference is not great. It is a little more labor intensive but a learned skill well worth the effort. The difficulty in obtaining consistency between dye lots can be an issue in the textile industry, but for the handcrafter this is a part of the charm of natural dyes - never quite knowing what the results will be and often being pleasantly surprised.