RAW MATERIALS
Throughout history, people have dyed their textiles using common, locally available materials, producing brilliant and permanent colours from plants, minerals, roots, berries, bark, leaves, seeds, and wood.
In FABORG dyeing process starts from choosing 100% natural and authentic raw materials that are available locally in abundance, and ends with re-using the liquid and solid residues for the organic farming purposes.
INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA
Once referred to as “Blue Gold” because it was considered such a commodity, Indigo is one of the oldest coloring agents known to man with the oldest known indigo-dyed cloth over 6,000 years old. Indigo was originally made using plants, and blue indigo from India was the most prized. This was because India is home to the Indigofera tinctoria plant, which yields a large amount of dye and produces a higher quality blue compared to indigo plants indigenous to Europe.
The traditional reducing agent used for this dye is sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) resulting in a large amount of by-product from the process which can cause ecological problems. There are other metal-based chemical techniques that still create heavy precipitates and even eco-friendly options such as Alpha-hydroxy ketones (a more expensive product), Glucose (needs high temperature) are not satisfactory. Hence, the search for natural reducing agents & natural alkalis is inevitable. These natural reducing agents include dried and fresh fruits, minerals, and flavonoids.
Keeping all of this in mind and with continuous R&D, we found new methods for the reduction of natural indigo dyes using natural reducing agents and also eco-friendly alkalis.
MARIGOLD
Marigold flowers were one of the main raw materials used to color textiles before World War II. In ancient times, these flowers were used as a sort of clock, as they are said to be phototropic which means they follow the sun, turning their heads towards the light throughout the day. The plant extracts also possess antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
We use the best Indian Marigolds which yield rich and clear yellows - light, medium, and dark, through a standardized dyeing process.
ANNATTO / BIXA SEEDS
The tree is best known as the source of annatto, a natural orange-red condiment (also called achiote or bijol) obtained from the waxy arils that cover its seeds. Their Phytochemicals exhibit a wide range of pharmacological abilities that are antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, etc. In the olden days it was also used in cosmetics.
We employ fresh annatto seeds from the local market to produce light to dark orange shades.
MADDER
The Indian or common madder belongs to a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, and is one of our most ancient dyes–the universal red. It has been cultivated for a red pigment derived from its roots. In the ancient world, Madder is reputed as an efficient blood purifier and hence is extensively used against blood, skin, and urinary diseases.
Madder is a complex dyestuff containing over 20 individual chemical substances. Alizarin is the most important of these because it provides the famous red and scarlet colors on textile substrates. We employ genuine Indian madder root powder to produce the colors pink (light to dark shades), brick red-orange, red, purple, and brown.
ACACIA CATECHU
Acacia Catechu is commonly known as catechu or cutch, an extract of acacia trees used variously as a food additive and dye. The catechu powder is high in natural vegetable tannins. Cutch will dye fabrics in brown shades.
ACACIA ARABICA
The bark of the Acacia has been traditionally used to produce Arabic gum. Although this is mainly used as a thickener and stabilizer in the food industry, it is also a fast dye on cotton. Each part of this tree has medicinal properties- malaria, sore throat (aerial part), toothache (bark), and more. According to South Indian “witchcraft” wearing Acacia Arabica accessories keeps evil eyes away.
We employ the Arabica bark powder to produce beautiful light to dark brown and grey shades.
POMEGRANATE RIND
In Hindu tradition, the pomegranate (Hindi: anār) symbolizes prosperity and fertility and is associated with both Bhoomidevi (the earth goddess) and Lord Ganesha (the one fond of the many-seeded fruit). It also had a widespread role in ancient Ayurveda.
We employ the freshest pomegranate rinds from local markets to produce beautiful light to dark yellow and grey shades.
MYROBALAN / KADDUKAI
Kaddukai, also called Terminalia Chebula, is the main ingredient in the Ayurvedic formulation Triphala which is used in preventing and healing kidney and liver dysfunctions.
On its own, it produces butter and lemon yellows. We employ the fresh Kaddukai from the local market to produce beautiful grey, green, and light to dark yellow shades.
We also use a different variant of Kaddukai to produce black shades.
ALKANET
Alkanna tinctoria, the dyer's alkanet, is a herb in the borage family. Its mainly known for its red roots is used for dyeing. The plant has a dark red root of blackish appearance externally, but blue-red inside, with a whitish core. The root produces a fine red coloring material, which has been used as a dye in the Mediterranean region since antiquity.
We employ alkanet to produce a beautiful light yellowish creamy shade.
IRON
Iron is considered a “saddening” mordant* because it makes the color both darker and either browner, bluer, or greener. Iron should be used with care on protein fibers as it can make them slightly hard or brittle.
Keeping all of this in mind, with our continuous R&D, we use a new iron-based formulation that has neutral pH 7 and does not release residual sulfates or acetates. It's an eco-friendly and sustainable process for the production of grey and black shades on all kinds of natural fibers.
*Mordant is a substance that combines with a dye or stain and thereby fixes it in a material.
ALUM
Natural alum occurs near active volcanoes or in desert areas. The compound alum has been known since the 5th century BCE and was used extensively by the ancients for dyeing.
Potassium aluminum sulfate is the mordant most frequently used by dyers for protein (animal) and cellulose (plant) fibers and fabrics. It improves the light and wash fastness of most natural dyes and keeps colors clear. It is inexpensive and safe to use.
Alum can sometimes be found in your local supermarket, as it is often used in canning and preserving. Alum is one of the most popular mordants used in natural dyeing.
