Most of our batik bandanas and scarves are colored with synthetic dyes. A smaller, growing line uses 100% plant-based dyes such as indigo. We'd rather tell you exactly which is which than call everything "eco-friendly."
Why most batik uses synthetic dye
Synthetic dyes give batik its bright, consistent colors, hold up to washing, and cost less. They are what most batik workshops in Java use today, including the ones we work with. Our bestsellers, like Black Mirage and Fiery Flora, are synthetic-dyed.
What we do about it
- We track every dye. We keep a ledger of every dye and fixative used in our standard production, so we know what's in our cloth and our artisans know what they're handling.
- We check our dyes for safety. We verify that our dyes and fixatives don't contain prohibited lead or phthalates, in line with US consumer product rules.
- We protect the people using them. Our studios are open-air for ventilation, and we've asked artisans to wear gloves when handling wet, dyed cloth.
Our natural-dye line
Working with specific artisan groups, we've launched pieces dyed entirely with plant-based pigments that are biodegradable and gentler on local water. Our artisans bring the traditional botanical knowledge; we bring the orders that make it worth doing. Every natural-dye piece says so in its name, so you never have to guess.
One to try now: the Lotus Blossom batik tulis bandana, drawn entirely by hand with a canting pen and colored with natural brown and indigo dyes.
Fabric and handwork
Our bandanas and scarves are 100% cotton, a natural, biodegradable fiber. Every pattern is applied by hand with wax: stamped with copper cap or drawn with a canting pen. No industrial printing machinery is involved.
Packaging
Since 2025, our bandanas and scarves ship without single-use plastic. We reuse the boxes and packing material our shipments from Indonesia arrive in for your orders. When we need new supplies, we buy recycled paper and compostable mailers.
Where we're headed
We want natural dye to be a bigger share of what we sell. The more you choose it, the more we can order it, and the more reason our artisans have to move away from synthetics.
Kasih Co-op is a verified member of the Fair Trade Federation. Read more on How We Work.
