TALK SESSION with Assistant Director Khadi Gram Udyog (Mr Srinivas Meena)
Dyer-Printer based in outskirts of Delhi
- We started the conversation by talking about natural dyes. He told me that, Natural dyes are made out of things that are naturally grown or found in nature like leaves , flowers , fruits , vegetables etc..
- Can you tell me the name of the flower that is used to make colour?
Tesu or Palash is flower that is used to make yellow colour. Its not that difficult to grow. It is reddish-orange coloured flower.
- How do you make colour out of the flower petals?
Tesu flower petals are soaked in hot water for 1-2 days or left overnight. In the morning stain the water so that we can use the colour to get yellow stains.
The colour is now available in powder form in markets.
What other things are used to extract colours?
For black colour, Iron filling are used.
In earthen pot take 10 kg water-1.5kg jaggery and 1kg iron fillings. Soak them in water for 15-20days in sunlight .Stain the water in the pot .Colour can be used dye the fabric.
For Purple colour , Jamun fruit is used.
Jamun peels and seed are soaked into earthen pot for 8-10 days under sunlight. Stain the water after 10 days for purple colour. Spices like Turmeric (haldi) can be used to get pink colour .
Mix turmeric with water and add 100gms of lemon water/juice in the container. Leave it for 7-8 days to see pink colour.
Making colours naturally is very time consuming process.
Some colours are 100% fast where as some are 85% known as rapid colours
Why Natural Indigo ?
Not natural indigo the safer , cleaner, more ecological choice; it has the power to heal the earth, provide work in areas of rural unemployment. It has antibacterial and fungal properties. It is skin detoxification and purification and even blood purification. It is an organic product & with vibrant depth of indigo.
SHIBORI
A Japanese form of dying that revolves around different ways of binding and folding fabric to create different patterns. The most commonly practiced with indigo dye. Indigo dye is breath taking, actually amazing that something that comes from a plant can create such rich and vibrant shades of blue.
