A

Avocado - From the pits and skins, we extract a delicate pink. The color is surprisingly lightfast and gives textiles a special vintage look.

Scouring - The thorough washing of the textile before dyeing. Removes factory residues, oils, and dirt. Without this step, the color could be uneven or poorly adhere.

B

Mordant - A natural additive that strengthens the connection between fiber and dye. We primarily use tannin and aluminum acetate, a mineral mordant.

Logwood - A traditional dye wood that produces deep blue and violet tones.

Nettle - Yields yellow to olive-green tones from flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol. With an iron mordant, the tone shifts further towards olive.

Bundle Dye - A dyeing technique where plants are placed directly on the fabric, tightly rolled, and steamed. The plants leave their shape and color on the textile. This technique creates unique, non-reproducible impressions and patterns.

C

Cochineal - A natural red dye made from dried scale insects. Produces vibrant red tones from crimson to pink.

D

Direct Dyeing - Some plants like turmeric can be dyed directly without a mordant.

E

Oak - The bark contains tannins and yields warm brown tones.

Iron - Available as a mordant in two forms:

• Iron Sulfate: Also called "Green Vitriol". Darkens colors and creates grey and black tones.
• Iron Acetate: A gentler variant of the iron mordant. Gives softer grey tones and is less aggressive to the fibers.

Extraction - The process by which we extract the color pigments from plants.

F

Woad - One of the oldest indigo plants in Europe. Gives a unique, light blue.

Fermentation - An important process, especially when dyeing with indigo.

G

Cutch - A traditional dye from acacia bark. Yields warm, earthy brown tones and is particularly lightfast.

Tannins - Natural substances in many plants that produce brown tones and enhance the color intensity of other pigments.

Goldenrod - The flowers yield sunny yellow tones.

Pomegranate - The peels yield yellow to brown tones.

H

Hammering - A direct dyeing technique where plant parts are transferred to the textile by gently tapping with a hammer. The plant dyes are mechanically worked into the fiber. Juicy flowers and leaves are particularly suitable. Results in delicate, detailed imprints.

Hibiscus - The flowers dye pink to violet and are rich in antioxidants.

I

Indigo - The king of natural dyes. Fermentation produces the characteristic blue.

K

Chamomile - The flowers yield delicate yellow tones and are particularly suitable for light fabrics.

Chestnut - The shell contains tannins and yields warm brown tones.

Madder - One of the most important dye plants for red tones. The root contains various red dyes.

Turmeric - Gives bright yellow tones and is easy to work with.

L

Lightfastness - The resistance of the color to sunlight. Varies greatly with natural dyes.

M

Mordant - French for Beize. Traditional term from dyeing.

N

Aftertreatment - Rinsing and fixing the dyed textiles.

O

Oxidation - Important chemical process in dyeing, especially with indigo.

P

pH value - Strongly influences color development. Each plant has its optimal pH range.

R

Tansy - The flowers yield greenish-yellow tones.

Weld - Dyer's rocket, a classic dye plant for yellow.

Rhubarb - The root yields yellow to orange tones.

S

Acidity - Often determines the shade. Lemon brightens, baking soda darkens.

Shibori - Japanese resist dyeing technique for patterns.

Hollyhock - The dark flowers yield violet and blue tones.

T

Tannins - Natural tannins that can act as a mordant.

U

Ultramarine - Historical pigment from lapis lazuli.

V

Pre-treatment - Important first step for even dyeing. See Scouring.

W

Willow - Bark contains salicin and gives reddish tones

Z

• Red onions: Yield reddish-brown to violet tones
• Yellow onions: Create golden to orange-brown tones

One of the most accessible dye plants for starting natural dyeing, as the skins are often available for free in organic stores.

 

Tip for getting started

Begin your dyeing journey with simple dye plants like turmeric or onion skins. These yield beautiful results even without a mordant and are perfect for experimenting.

Important notes

• Color results may vary depending on the textile, water, and season
• Natural dyes evolve over time and thus tell their own story
• Every dyeing process is unique and creates one-of-a-kind pieces