I just wanted to thank you and let you know that the Logwood I purchased
from you was wonderful. This is the first time I have worked with natural
dyes, and I must say from this experience forth, natural dyes will be
the only thing I will use. Thank you for turning me on to the theraputic
artistry of natural dyeing.
Best regards,
Shari Strmac, SewBlue, LLC
Natural dyes are dyestuffs made from plants, minerals, and in the case of cochineal, an insect. Here is our selection of the most colour-fast natural dyes available. Cheryl Kolander, who IS Aurora Silk, is the senior Natural Dyer in the world today. 39 years of professional, daily experience with these dyes has taught her the best: “And I only use the best, because my life as an artist is too precious to use anything but the best!”
The dyestuffs below are the “Major Dyes of Commerce”, dyes that have been used by silk and textile artists for thousands of years. They are precious commodities and are increasingly rare. Cheryl is constantly looking for new sources for these dyes, and encouraging increased production of the finest grades of these quality dyes.
All dyestuffs are “raw material”. The dye must be extracted by boiling in water. The cloth must be prepared to accept the dye by the use of a pre-mordant. Please see Tutorial on Natural Dyeing if you are new to the process. INDIGO is an exception, with it's own special Natural Fermentation living process.
To order the dye you want, please click on the dye name.
Indigo Gown at left: "Starry Nite" Indigo dyework by Cheryl Kolander, Aurora Silk; gown design and execution by Linsey Pellicola, 2008
Fusticwood
Bright, truely luminescent yellows; rich Golds; medicinal, no-mordant "Therapeutic Yellow"; easy to acheive soft greens from Forest to Sage. Use with Indigo for Bright Greens; use with any red for bright orange.
ON SALE! and in quantity again!
Benefit SALE of Fusticwood: 100% of all purchases go to "Mama D.O.C." Inc., Non-Profit , to benefit the Logwood Project, the Artist Empowerment Project, the Women's Indigo Farm in Central America, and the promotion of PEACE SILK.
Cochineal
The fabled cultivated scale insect that yields SCARLET, CRIMSON, PLUMS AND LAVENDERS on silk and wool.
Lac
Reds, including Scarlet and Crimson, as well as an infinite range of pinks, plums and lavenders are easily acheived with this 100% water soluble extract. This classic dye of antiquity dyes these colours on Cotton as well as Silk and Wool. Some colours are shown below. 
Logwood
An easy PURPLE and the deepest BLACK. Finest aged shavings from the Logwood Project in the Dominican Republic.
Madder
RED, ORANGE, CORAL and WINE with different mordants and different amounts of dye. One of the oldest of all Natural Dyes, in use for at least 10,000 years.
Munjeet (Indian Madder)
Reds, oranges and burgundy. This madder is a much higher quality than normal madder and the colours are more vibrant.
Catechu (Cutch)
The brown dye used in Indonesian textiles
Brazilwood
Reds and pinks
Osage Orange
Bright Yellows
Fustic Extract
Golds
and soft greens from Forest to Sage; with Indigo for bright greens; with any red for bright oranges; also used to balance the Black of Logwood, from Navy to Jet.
Weld
Yellows
Ratanjali (Sandalwood)
BRONZE
Tannic Acid (Tannin)
Beige base for cotton dyeing and block printing or painting with Iron
Quercitron
Bright yellows, rich golds
Annatto (Bixa)
Orange-red dye that is oil soluble - use for candles
Cheryl is always searching for new sources for quality Natural Dyes. All the Natural Dyes sold by Aurora Silk are tested by Cheryl Kolander personally. All the Natural Dyes sold by Aurora Silk come from reputable sources. They are grown in de-facto Organic conditions or are wildcrafted (which means necessarily Organic). All these Natural Dyes are also Natural Medicines. Working with them and wearing clothes dyed with them will benefit your health. Purchasing these dyes will also benefit all the individuals and communities whose efforts bring them to you. Aurora Silk is a 100% sustainable business, 100% socially responsible. Cheryl Kolander is a lifetime practitioner of Kindness to People and the Planet. She is 63 years in 2008. For over 40 years her business practices have been the forerunner of such ideas as "Fair Trade", "Eco" and "Sustainable". Her actual practice exceeds all standards.
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