Silk charmeuse is the most lovely garment fabric. It is a lustrous satin on one side and matte crepe on the other. The drape is always beautiful. The flow of the fabric adds dimension to the colours as wherever the fabric folds it catches the light, while valleys create shadowy depths.
The 100% Naturally Dyed colours that are being produced by Cheryl Kolander, World Senior Master Natural Dyer, in the Aurora Silk studio in Portland, Oregon are the culmination of a lifetime of daily professional level Natural Dye work. These colours are the most beautiful in the world. They are the most permanent colours, fast to light and washing, equal in durability to the silk upon which they are created.
Natural Dyes are not pulled out of a bottle, always the same, never changing. Natural dyes are created by the dyer from natural dyestuffs: plants, minerals and the precious cochineal and lac. They are brilliant colours that radiate living energy. They also age and change over time. Some become more clear and luminous, some become deeper and richer. They are always beautiful and supremely attractive.
Above: Lavender Grey on Charmeuse, click on pic to enlarge
The charmeuse that is used as the base for these most beautiful in the world colours is our special Indian Charmeuse.* It is a mid weight, aproximately 16 momme, shiney satin on the face, with a reverse of matte crepe. It is a durable fabric and can be water washed.
All the colours formulated and dyed by Cheryl Kolander, Senior Master Natural dyer who IS Aurora Silk can be machine washed, gentle cycle, warm water and gentle (hand dishwashing) detergent. All the beautiful vibrant colours in the pictures on this page have been machine washed and machine dried, with no ironing after. This is an easy care fabric, and these are permanent, vibrant, living colours.
*(Alternately, we may have the colours on a wider 54" Satin Crepe Charmeuse from China, which we will substitute as the Indian Charmeuse is not always available. Care, appearance and hand is the same.)
THESE COLOURS ARE REGULARLY STOCKED and can be purchased by the yard:
Dark "Peace" Indigo Blue
We use only the finest natural Indigo and
the time honored Natural Fermentation Vat. The indigo used is from the Women's Indigo Farm Project in El Salvador and is "cosmetic grade".
BLACK-BLACK
Naturally dyed blackest black, unbelievable on this silk satin! Dyed for us in a partner dyework in India, this exceptional black is dyed with all local tannins, and recycled iron scrap fermented in raw sugar water.
Ruby
Dyed with Brazilwood, rich and velvety, this is the very best Evening Wear Red-red.
PURPLE HAZE
Dyed with Logwood shavings directly imported from the Logwood Project in the Dominican Republic.
LAVENDER GREY
Changes with the light: sometimes it looks dove grey, in other light, a shimmering soft lavender
MORE COLOURS ADDED PERIODICALLY!
By the yard colours are $60 per yard
5 yds or more $50 per yard
ORDER BUTTONS SOON - for now please call or email your order (see below)
"ARTIZAN" HAND-DYED:
THESE COLOURS CAN BE CUSTOM DYED in 5 YARD to 10 YARD lengths:
ANY OF THE 120 AURORA SILK COLOURS (see COLOUR CHART)
5 yards $250 each additional yard $50
note: maximum length per dyelot 10 yds (multiple dyelots for larger orders; dyelots vary slightly or not at all)
Please call 503-286-4149 (M-Th 11 - 3 Pacific Time) to arrange custom dye colours.
ABRAJZ: all hand dyed colours show slight variegations. This is a characteristic of hand work. As you see from all the photos, such variegations are extremely subtle and, while not generally noticable, do add brilliance to the finished colour.
NOTE: Your purchase of these 100% Naturally Dyed colours supports an American Artist at work. And the chain of support from the purchase of the fabric and the dyestuffs assists other Artists around the globe, in the creation of beauty.
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