Before the creation of synthetic dyes in the mid-1800s, natural dyes were used globally to create beautiful, vividly coloured clothing and textiles. As the industrial revolution took over the fashion industry, natural dyes were superseded by synthetic dyes, as they were cheaper and quicker to produce at scale.

Recently, however, the world is waking up to the harmful social and ecological impacts of synthetic dyes due to the toxic by-products they produce. But could naturally dyed clothing be a sustainable solution, and what exactly are natural dyes?

In this blog piece, we will shed some light on the social and ecological impact of naturally dyed clothing – including what makes a natural dye, the types of plants used to create different natural dyes, as well as the communities this process benefits.

We’ll also discuss both the benefits and drawbacks of using natural dyes and even include some handy tips if you want to have a go at using your own at home.

The Types of Dyes Used in Fabric Production
Natural Dyes

Natural dyes are dyes or colourants which are derived from animals, plants or minerals. The majority of organic dye production is sourced from biological sources – such as trees, flowers, vegetables and fungi.

Before the creation of synthetic dyes, people had to use whatever was available to them in the natural world if they wanted to create dye for fabrics, textiles or even ink. There is even evidence to suggest that the natural dyeing of textiles using plant dyes dates back as early as the Neolithic period.

Natural dyes are biodegradable, non-toxic and non-allergenic, making them generally better for the environment and for use around humans, as they don’t have any carcinogenic components which are found in many synthetic dyes.