There is something quietly radical about making color from what grows in the earth. A handful of onion skins, the pit and peels of an avocado, a bundle of dried marigolds... and suddenly, fabric holds within it the memory of a garden, a forest, a harvest. This is natural dyeing, and once you understand it, it's hard to look at color the same way again.
The simplest answer
Natural dyeing is the practice of using plants, roots, flowers, bark, seeds, and even some minerals to color textiles and fibers. Unlike synthetic dyes, which were only invented in the mid-19th century, natural dyes have been used by humans for thousands of years, across every culture and continent on Earth.
Before chemistry changed everything, all color came from nature. The deep blues of traditional indigo, the reds of cochineal from Mexico, the warm yellows of weld gathered across Europe colored fabrics. They were more tan pigments, they were trade routes, cultural languages, expressions of identity and belonging.
1.Palo de Campeche (Logwood), 2. Turmeric
How does it work?
At its most basic, natural dyeing involves three steps: preparing the fiber, creating the dye bath, and immersing the material to absorb the color.
Most fibers need to be treated with a mordant first: a mineral compound (like alum, the most common and gentle option) that helps the color bond to the textile. This step determines how vibrant and lasting the final result will be.
Then comes the dye bath: plant material simmered in water until it releases its pigment. The fiber is added, left to slowly absorb the color over time, then rinsed and dried.
Socks dyed with avocado pits and peels
Why does it matter today?
In a world of fast fashion and synthetic everything, natural dyeing is a small but meaningful act of slowness. It asks you to pay attention to the seasons, to materials, to process. It connects you to a lineage of makers that stretches back further than any brand or trend.
It also offers something rarer than any color: the experience of making something unique with your own hands, from the living world around you.
You don't need a studio or years of training. You need curiosity, some water, a little heat, and something to dye.
The rest is discovery 🎨
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What can you dye with?
We've put together a guide to 61 natural pigments, plants, roots, flowers, barks and insects. With all the information and hand-drawn illustrations. Join our community and receive it directly on your mail inbox 💌
And when you're ready to deep into this beautiful world, explore our natural dyeing workshops in Paris or bring the practice home with one of our DIY kits. Everything you need to make your first color from scratch!
→ Explore our Colorful Garden
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