Do Natural Dyes Fade?
A common concern around natural dyes is whether they fade or wash out. We appreciate the concern as we know that many of you are looking to buy less and invest in quality over quantity for the sake of the environment, as well as your wallet. The truth is that all dyes fade, whether they are synthetic or natural. For natural dyes, the rate at which they fade depends on the natural dyes used and also the care taken in maintaining them.
Let us explain…
Natural Dyes Have Ancient Origins
If you have read our previous post about what natural dyes are, you will know that they have been around since since 10,000 BC. There is evidence of their resilience when you see tapestries dating back to pre 1860 in museums across the world. Modern day natural dyers have spent years learning their craft, understanding what natural dyes yield the best light and washfastness (the speed at which the dyes fade from light exposure and fade through washing). If you have questions regarding the fastness of your items and the best care methods, always contact the dyer that made your garment.
Caring For Your Clothes
The time and attention given to properly caring for your naturally dyed clothes will pay dividends in the longevity of their colourfastness. This is why we have written a dedicated post on the subject (link blog post). In summary, we recommend handwashing where possible and if not, using the low temperature delicate setting on your washing machine. Always use pH-neutral soap as it will ensure that the dyes aren’t modified by any pH changes from the detergent. We also recommend drying out of direct sunlight because sunlight fades dyes. We then recommend storing the clothes in a dark place such as draws, cupboards, anywhere that is away from light exposure.
Synthetic Dyes Last Too Long
So we have recognised that natural dyes have the potential to last a long time. Natural dyes will biodegrade naturally within months of being added to a natural compost environment leaving no trace whereas synthetic dyes take approximately 50 years to degrade in a compost (1). Whilst they biodegrade they release toxic chemicals into the ground around it. 50 years is a long time for a waste product to be on this planet beyond its initial purpose. We feel a little sick thinking about all of the cheap fast fashion items that must be clogging up landfills around the world. So not only does the production of synthetically dyed clothing cause damage to the environment through toxic chemically saturated waste water, releases chemicals onto the skin of the wearer during use and the end product then degrades over 50 years leaking further toxic chemicals into the ground.
In Summary
When the appropriate natural dyes are used and the garments cared for appropriately, natural dyes are resilient and a conscious alternative to synthetic dyes. The chemical makeup of synthetic dyes makes it a hard comparison to something that comes from the earth. Our judgement of ‘perfection’ is skewered when we compare a natural product, which yields benefits far beyond colour and lightfastness, to something which is chemical-based and the destruction that it brings. Dyeing with and using naturally dyed products should be a process that is enjoyed for the whole experience of working with a wider spectrum of multi-dimensional colour unparalleled by synthetics, the health benefits to you as the wearer, the positive impact on the environment and finally, your ability to control what happens to your garment throughout it’s time on earth. For us, those collective benefits outweigh any other potential concerns. Natural dyes are a way of life, ridding yourself and the environment of toxic chemicals and owning something truly unique.
Interested in finding out more?
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(1) "Dyes-Environmental Impact and Remediation," Luciana Pereira and Madalena Alves, Ch. 4 (2012).
