I decided to Experiment with Natural Dyes
During my research into the future of fashion, I became increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of traditional textile practices, especially the use of synthetic dyes. One headline that caught my attention came from an article titled “Made In China: Environmental Impact of the Textile Industry in China” (source). It stated:
“One of the country's greatest environmental challenges is water pollution. The World Health Organisation estimates that polluted water causes 75 percent of diseases in China.”
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| MY ECO- FRIENDLY DYING PROCESS |
This shocked me. I then read another report from BioVista Waters (source) that highlighted the scale of pollution caused by textile dyeing:
“Industrialization of the textile industry and the use of a large variety of chemical treatments and dyes has resulted in a public health threat created by pollution. 17–20% of industrial freshwater pollution is caused by textile dyeing and treatment. It’s estimated that 10–15% of total dyestuffs—equivalent to 280,000 tonnes—used during textile manufacturing are released into the environment worldwide each year.”
These facts made it clear to me that the fashion industry’s dependence on chemical dyes is unsustainable and harmful. This inspired me to experiment with natural dyes as a small, personal contribution toward a more sustainable fashion future. Using plant-based and kitchen-sourced materials like beetroot, turmeric, red cabbage, and onion skins.
I began testing out alternatives that don’t pollute waterways or pose a threat to human health.
Natural dyeing may seem like a small act, but it's a powerful step in raising awareness and challenging the destructive norms in fashion. If more designers and consumers embraced these alternatives, we could begin to reduce the industry’s toxic footprint—one garment at a time.
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| Eco-friendly dying using green tea. |
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| Eco-dying with coffee |
