Mystery of the Green Vegetable dye- from fruits, vegetables and spices- Indigo-Pomegranate and Turmeric

The natural color green is a living color made with Indigo- Pomegranate and Turmeric and is an elaborate process.

 The fabric is soaked boiled and beating by wood sticks to clean and get it ready.  Carved Wooden block  is dipped into a resist paste which is mud like and is viscous.  The paste masks the design and prevents the dye from penetrating through the fabric.  Sawdust or wheat chafe is dusted on the paste throughout the block- printing process to avoid smudging.

 After the fabric has dried in the sun, it is repeatedly immersed in the indigo vat until desired shade of blue is achieved. Exposure to air and repeated immersion  in Indigo affects the intensity of the blue, which in turn, affects the tone of the green.

 A mixture of boiled pomegranate rinds and turmeric gives the dye its particular hue and brings about the change from blue to green.

 The cloth is then dipped in a solution of alum to strengthen the dye, cured in sun  and resist paste is washed off.

 As the garment is washed, the color gradually changes and becomes bluish and less yellow and softens in hue.  Because the indigo color is mechanical rather than chemical, the excess molecules are rubbed off during initial usage of the garment.  If this happens, the transferred color can easily be removed by normal hand washing. 

How to wash the garment dye with vegetable dyes:
We recommend that you hand wash your vegetable dye garments in cold water and line dry them.

How Natural Green Color is made for rupalee:
Information Source: Did you know how we do this at rupalee – fair Trade with style.  Learn more at www.rupalee.com, www.rupalee.net, www.rupalee.rupalee.com, www.Ojasvy.com