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.