Purchasing Resources for Organic Dyes And Pigments

Organic Dyes and Pigments Education and Training

Learn how to make and use organic dyes
By Kate Esposito If you're looking to take advantage of the current trend of "green" goods, creating and using organic dyes and pigments is a good way to start. It can differentiate your textiles business from others and help you reach a niche consumer market.
 

When you're just starting to get into the organic dye business, you have a lot to learn. Focus your organic dyes and pigments education and training in the following three areas:

1. How to create organic pigments from plants and other natural sources;

2. How to use these dyes to color fabrics;

3. Where to buy organic dye that you are not able to produce yourself.

Learn how to use organic materials to create organic pigment

Organic fabric dyes can come from lots of different sources, including vegetables, flowers and even insects. The trick is to decide which colors you'd like to produce and then decide what you would like to derive them from.
Try: Read PioneerThinking's article on making natural dyes from plants. It provides a lot of information on what colors you can produce from what source and has a step-by-step tutorial on how to make the organic materials into dyes. Then go to the USDA's website and read the requirements for having your vegetable or flower "farm" certified organic. If you meet these rules, you may be able to use the official seal on your dyes.

Discover how to use your natural organic pigments to color fabric

After you've produced your organic dyes, you will need to color some fabric swatches to show off your colors to potential buyers. This is a very important process to perfect if you want to sell dyed fabric or clothing,
Try: Visit Aurora Silk's website and read the instructions on how to use natural dyes on fabrics. Then read The Gourmet Grill's article on how to set dye so the colors don't run when you wash your fabric.

Determine where to buy organic dye you can't produce it yourself

For one reason or another, you may not be able to produce all of the organic fabric dyes you wish to sell and you might have to purchase one or more colors of pigment. Make sure the company you buy from can prove to you that its dyes are organic or this could eventually hurt your credibility.
Try: Read through the products page on Organic Dyestuff's website to get an idea of the dyes you will be able to buy. Then go to Paula Burch's site on organic dye suppliers. She has a list of dozens of companies all around the world you can check for location and pricing. Some offer organic and traditional dyes, so be careful when it comes time to buy.

• People who look for clothes with organic fabric dyes probably want organic fabric as well. Keep that in mind when you shop for fabric or clothing for your business.