Cotton fabric is very popular choice for manufacturing apparel for various reasons: it is durable and can withstand a rough laundering treatment. it has good perspiration and absorption characteristics; it is comfortable to wear; and it is able to take on a wide range of dyes.(1)The more synthetic fibres there are in a garment, the less likely it is to shrink.
Cotton fibers are soft, cool and absorbent natural fibers with good drape ability, it allows the skin to breathe and perspire due to its porosity, and its moisture evaporation ability keeps body cool and dry, making it ideal choice for comfortable summer wear. According to recent studies, wear comfort has been listed as the most important property of clothing demanded by users and consumers (2)
Apart form waste generated by polyester fabrics, the textile wastewater, loaded with hazardous synthetic dyes, organic acids, inorganic salts, etc. becomes a pollution challenge. The environmental and health-related impacts of synthetic dyes have led to growing interest in natural dyes as sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives.. Over the years, natural dyes have emerged as biocompatible, environment-friendly, and non-toxic substitutes, and their applications could validate the concept of pollution-free dyeing of textile materials(3).
Use of natural dyes and pigments in India, can be traced back to centuries old ancient India. Some of common ancient dyes comprise madder, blue indigo, and Yellow obtained from saffron or turmeric while ochre, limestone and charcoal were important pigments. Cotton also possesses a strong affinity for natural dyes, facilitating effective penetration and bonding with the fibre. The porous nature of cotton fibre further helps in rapid absorption of natural dyes. Some studies report the presence of UV protection in some natural dyes, such as madder and indigo. However, natural textile colorants have some drawbacks that hinder their widespread application. These include high costs, low variability in the quality and quantity of raw materials, complex and time-consuming extraction and purification methods, poor fastness properties, and absence of standardized procedures and formulations for color production(4). However, benefits offered exceed the issues and textile industry is working constantly to resolve those lacuna.
Natural dyed cottons provide comfortable and safe clothing option for hot and humid summers of India. Enjoy the goodness of Indigenous Fashion from India.
