Natural dyes, usually extracted from leaves, flowers, roots and other natural resources, require huge amount of land to grow and gallons of water for extraction of dyestuff and are alternatively expensive to mass produce.
This project was aimed at finding natural waste alternatives and possible color palette to cut cost on growing the raw material. Thus, making it reach wider audience, also minimising use of chemical dyes.
PROPOSED IDEA: REUSING NATURAL WASTE
Collecting Natural waste from Local Vegetable/Flower market (Vegetable peels, wilted flowers, stale fruits and vegetables) and Temples (Flower decorations, garlands, offerings to deities).
The waste collected was then segregated and used for extraction of dyestuff.
DYE COLOR SAMPLING
Onion skin
Marigold+Rose Petals
Yellow Rose Petals
Pomegranate Peels
SAMPLES EXPLORED USING ECO PRINTING TECHNIQUE
Marigold Petals
Rose Petals
Marigold (left); Rose petals(right)
Rose+Marigold
These Eco-print samples were dyed to explore the color and textures of natural material using minimum water.
NATURALLY DYED MUND (LUNGI)
Chemically dyed
Naturally dyed
Chemically Dyed (Left); Naturally dyed (right)
BY-PRODUCT
The residue left after extraction of dyestuff, was turned into compost cakes with the seeds of that particular flower/fruit inside it which can be put in soil directly, thus initiating the step to give back nature, what has been extracted from it.
PROPOSED POSSIBILITIES
#1 On a smaller scale,we can replace the chemically dyed fabrics used by priests and idols with the naturally dyed ones. This will create a loop where the waste generated by temples are used by them itself.
#2 Taking this to the market where people are using natural dyes by using the fresh material which can be replaced to the materials that have already served a purpose somewhere else.
#3 Engaging local craftsmen (Mangalagiri weavers) and Municipality in the process to generate employment and enhance social relations between the temple and the local people.