The History of Natural Fabric Dyes
Beginning in ancient times, people have been extracting pigments from natural elements and using them to color fabric. Early fabric dyes were made from plant and animal matter. For thousands of years, people passed on the tradition of using particular elements to produce a specific color. Experimentation led to new dye practices and, eventually, to the development of synthetic or chemical dyes.
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Madder Juice
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According to the Quilt History website, fabric dyeing dates back to ancient Egypt. The exploration of Egyptian tombs has uncovered mummies wrapped in fabric stained red. Early records indicate that the Egyptians used the juice of the madder plant to produce this red dye, known as alizarin. Legend has it that Alexander the Great tricked the Persian army into believing his men were wounded by dyeing their robes red with alizarin, the Dyes Online website indicates.
Indigo Berries
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The use of indigo berries to produce a dark blue color dates back more than 4,000 years, according to Dyes Online. When the Romans invaded what is now England, they discovered a tribe of people known as the Picts, who held a tradition of tattooing their skin and dyeing clothing using indigo berry juice. In fact, the word "Briton" derives from the Latin word meaning "painted men."
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Tyrian Purple Dye
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Perhaps the most sought-after dye of ancient times was the purple dye used to indicate royalty in many cultures. Egyptian and Roman history holds that Mark Anthony fled the naval battle at Actium aboard Cleopatra's barge, identified by its purple sails, according to the Dyes Online website. The Quilt History website indicates that purple dye came from a shellfish known as the trumpet shell. Dye makers cracked open the shellfish to reveal the purple substances in its veins. Producing the dye was expensive, making it only available to royalty.
Bronze Age
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The Bronze Age, stretching from 2500 to 800 B.C., marked the development of many natural fabric dyes. According to the Colour Experience website, this period marked the development of blue dye. In addition to Indigo, blue dye commonly derived from the woad plant. Although the ancient Britons favored this dye, it was most likely developed in Palestine, where the woad plant grew in the wild. The Bronze Age also marked the rise of Tyrian purple dye to an indicator of royalty.
Primitive Dyes
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According to the Colour Experience website, many natural fabric dyes evolved through experimentation. Textilers wished to adorn their fabrics with color. Without the luxury of synthetic dyes, they had to experiment in order to find various colors. Thus, they commonly used berries to produce reds, blues and purples; left fabrics in the sun to bleach them, lighten colors and turn them white; and used fire to scorch fabric, producing blacks, browns and grays.
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References
- Photo Credit tie dyed green image by Steve Mann from Fotolia.com
