Raw wool, silk, cotton, and other yarns are washed to remove excess oils and fats, hand or machine spun, then treated with the most reliable color-fast dyes. Not long ago, plants, vegetables, flowers, and even insects were the sole source of India’s dyes. They produced brilliant “rainbows,” whose formulas were jealously guarded secrets.

Today’s new coloring agents, though less romantic in origin, are now admired for their exceptional range of rich decorator colors – and for their all-important stability. Most of the dyes used are environmentally friendly, and have been approved by various international monitoring agencies. Natural vegetable dyes are still in use, and with the help of some additives, they have also become long lasting and colorfast. The dyeing process can vary from traditional pot dying to industrial dyeing.