Natural dyeing isn’t as gentle and predictable as it looks. Behind those soft colors are techniques that might surprise you.
Take indigo, for example. Historically, indigo dyeing involved fermentation — and yes, people once used urine as a mordant to activate the dye. The ammonia helped bring out that deep blue shade. That said, we absolutely don’t use urine in our process today. Modern natural dyeing uses safer, plant-based or mineral mordants, without the… questionable ingredients.
Another unexpected fact? Some of the most vibrant reds in history came from insects. Cochineal bugs were crushed to produce intense red pigments used on textiles across the world. These techniques influenced naturally dyed handmade fabrics long before synthetic dyes existed.
Natural dye is also wildly unpredictable. The same plant can produce different colors depending on water quality, temperature, or even the pot used. This is why every handmade cotton bandana or cotton scarf turns out slightly different and why perfection isn’t the goal.
In Indonesian batik, the process gets even more complex. Wax is applied to fabric before dyeing, then removed and reapplied over multiple dye baths. A single cotton batik scarf or handmade batik bandana can take days to finish, layer by layer, color by color.
Natural dye keeps changing even after the process is done. Exposure to light, daily wear, and washing slowly soften the color, giving each piece more character over time.
This craft is deeply tied to Indonesian culture, where dyeing and batik-making are passed down through generations. Every piece of batik from Indonesia carries knowledge that existed long before modern fashion timelines.
That’s why naturally dyed pieces are never truly “mass-produced.” With so many variables and so much handwork involved,they naturally become meaningful handmade gifts — imperfect, personal, and impossible to replicate exactly.
Natural dyeing is beautiful, strange, and deeply human. And yes, sometimes a little shocking, just not that shocking anymore.
