Traditional Techniques of Dyeing Textiles with Natural Dyes: a Case Study of Southern Province in Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Dyeing with plant-based extracts has a long tradition in the world. The desire for more bright and stable colours can be seen as one of the strong driving forces in the historical development of natural dyes. Today synthetic dyes and heavy metal mordants have been identified as serious threat to human and environmental health. Therefore, a new era has come to lookback ancient values and customs. The objective of this study is to find reclaimed system of dyeing according ancient natural dyeing of Sri Lanka.Survey was based on the employees of the Sothern Province hand loom industry. Mode of collecting the data was carried out through personal interviews and telephone survey. Data were tabled according to colour, dye substances, mordant. It helps to compare data and make link in-between. Analysis of data was developed by writing summaries of what have found that leads towards discussion and conclusion. The survey explores thirteen hues of colours including blue, green and turquois shades. Seventeen kinds of plant-based extracts have been explored for different usage. Mordants and colour fastness which are based on extraction of plants have been successfully practiced through ages. This survey shows positive attitudinal practices as beginning a groundwork of good practices, move away of from a dependency on a few dye substances and developing a list of dye techniques with rich cultural traditions and all show the range of skills and resources that are available to us.