THE DYES
Colors from nature
IndiDye® Natural Color is our series of natural dyes made from biomass, fit for a wide range of fibres and applications. By utilizing our own special auxiliaries in combination with our dyes we provide class leading colorfastness without the use of conventional mordants. Our unique and efficient dispersing method, greatly improved solubility of natural dyes, and the stability of our dyeing solutions are all important parts of our eco-friendly natural color fastness enhancement technology. The technology transforms the use of natural dyes by introducing complete large-scale dyeing processes that significantly improves production efficiency and reduction of water consumption.
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IndiDye® Natural Color is available in yarns and fabrics for a range of products; wool, colored denim, mélange, nylon, lace and silk.
We have carefully selected 8 different raw materials for our dyes. From these 8 raw materials we create our principal colors. By mixing and blending these colors either by overdyeing or in a mélange process we create new colors and effects. Our raw materials have functions beyond dyes. We use what is normally by-products and waste: roots, shells, leaves, fruits, and offcuts. This allows us better use of natural resources and secures good access to raw materials.
The low impact natural alternative
Indigo is among the oldest dyes known to man, dating back 6000 years. To many of us the characteristic color of indigo is what defines denim fabrics and blue jeans. Originally this beautiful blue color was derived from different plants containing indigotin. It was a highly valuable trade commodity known as "blue gold".
When the chemical structure of indigo was discovered in the late 1800s it enabled the development of synthetic production methods. Due to the very large amount of indigo used today, especially for the production of jeans, it is now mostly produced synthetically, often with severe environmental impact. IndiDye® is reviving natural indigo through innovation and technology for a low impact natural alternative.
Indigo made from farmland waste
The Guizhou Province is famous for its karst mountain scenery. But this mountainous province is also home to a significant part of the farming of Ban-Lan-Gen. IndiDye® Natural Indigo is sourced from Isatis Indigotica or "dyers woad", one of the most important traditional Chinese medicinal plants. Isatis Indigotica is farmed for the roots, Ban-Lan-Gen (Radix Isatidis), which has been used in China and other Asian countries for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects for thousands of years.
The leaves that remain after the harvesting of Ban-Lan-Gen are usually waste, but we provide the farmers additional income from their crops by utilizing the waste leaves. We collect them, soak them in water and ferment them to convert substances present in the leaves to blue indigo dyes for our low impact aniline free IndiDye® Natural Indigo. Wastewater and leftovers from the fermentation process is recycled back into the farmland for irrigation and fertilisation.
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Natural bleaching
At IndiDye® we strive to optimize every step of the dyeing process. This is why we also offer the option of clay bleaching. Clay bleaching is a process where we use natural mineral rich clay to bleach fibres or yarns. The process uses significantly less water than traditional bleaching, we recycle 90% of the water in the process, and there are no hazardous chemicals.
The IndiDye® Clay White bleaching process reaches a Hunter whiteness level of 95-96.​ We can bleach raw fibres before dyeing and the raw undyed fibres that go into the blend when spinning the mélange yarns. We also offer the option to bleach yarns for white end products.
