There’s a quiet kind of magic in watching a garden transform into a palette of colour. What begins as leaves, petals or roots in the earth can be coaxed into pigments that breathe new life into fabric. Natural dyeing is not simply a craft; it’s a dialogue between fashion and the environment, where sustainability finds its most poetic expression.
From Plant to Pigment
In the heart of Bali, plants are nurtured with care and dedication. The vibrant colours we cherish in our natural dyes originate from these very gardens, where local produce thrives.
As the plants grow, they are tended to by skilled hands that understand their needs—ensuring they receive just the right amount of water and sunlight, while being protected from pests naturally. This attentive cultivation process allows each plant to reach its full potential, bursting with rich pigments that will later transform into stunning dyes.
Revealing the Colours
Once gathered, plants are prepared with their own method to release the pigments hidden inside. Take avocado: by simmering avocado pits and skins in water (and other natural compounds that give plant foods their colour), the tannins react with heat and water, creating a rich pink or reddish hue that can then be used for dyeing natural fabrics such as cotton, wool and linen.
Turmeric could be simmered in water which creates a warm dye bath, and after a long soak, fabric emerges in shades of vivid yellow or orange.
Purple dye is achieved by chopping and boiling red cabbages, with the tones adjusted by adding acids, such as vinegar, to create pink shades, or an alkali such as baking soda to create blues or greens.
Each plant brings unique characteristics to the table, making the preparation and colouring process an art-form in itself. By understanding these methods and appreciating the natural world’s offerings, we are able to develop beautiful dyes that celebrate both colour and sustainability.
The Immersion of Cloth
Once the colour has been extracted, fabrics could be immersed slowly in the dye. Layer by layer, they begin to absorb the pigment until they yield completely to the colour. The ritual may take hours or days, depending on the depth of tone desired. Patterns can be coaxed into existence through careful folding, tying, or binding, allowing artisans to compose one-of-a-kind designs in every fold and line.
Why We Choose This Way
The majority of fashion today still relies on chemical dyes, driven by the relentless pace of fast fashion. Quick turnaround and the demand for ever-changing collections leave little room for slower, natural processes, making synthetic colourants the industry’s default shortcut. Textile dyeing is estimated to contribute up to 20% of industrial water pollution worldwide, filling rivers with waste and releasing harmful compounds into the air.
At Del Mar, we choose differently. We believe colour should never come at such a cost. Our dyeing process respects tradition and the plants we work with, allowing each fabric to develop its own depth and variation. In Bali, this practice connects us to a culture that values patience and craft, reminding us that colour is at its most beautiful when it grows from the earth.