Materials
Natural dye: colours from walnut husk and mulberry leaf
Before synthetic dyes existed, clothing was dyed with plants: with roots, leaves, flowers and husks. Our natural dye shirts take up this technique. Here you'll find out where the colours come from, why no two shirts are alike and how to care for them.
At a glance
- With natural dye, the dyes come from plants, for example from walnut husks, mulberry leaves or onion skins.
- Every shirt turns out slightly different in shade and changes as it is worn and washed.
- Washing cool, without bleach, and drying in the shade keeps the colour fresh for longer.
What "natural dye" means
Natural dye simply means "naturally dyed". Instead of synthetic dyes, dyes from plants are used. The plant parts are boiled in water, the yarn or garment goes into the dye bath and gradually absorbs the colour. To make the colour hold on the fibre, plant dyeing often uses a mordant, which binds fibre and dye together.
The result is muted, lively shades with slight variations. They look less uniform than industrially dyed fabrics, and that is exactly their appeal.
Which plant gives which colour
The colour names of our shirts reveal where the colour comes from:
- Walnut Husk: the outer husks of the walnut give warm brown and sand tones.
- White Mulberry Leaves (leaves of the white mulberry tree): produce delicate, earthy tones, lighter or darker depending on the dyeing.
- Weld Flower (dyer's weld): a classic dye plant for yellow tones.
- Rubia Flower (madder): red and pink tones have been obtained from madder root for centuries.
- Indigo Plant: the best-known source of blue.
- Onion Skin and Acorn: give warm gold, beige and brown tones.
You'll find all the colours in the Natural Dyed collection.
Why every shirt is a little different
Plants aren't standardised goods. How much dye there is in leaves or husks depends on the harvest time, location and weather. Water, temperature and the length of the dye bath also influence the result. That's why your shirt may turn out a little lighter, darker or warmer than in the product photo. That's not a flaw, but typical of the technique.
Over time, the colours keep changing. They become a little softer through wearing, washing and light, and develop a patina, much like a well-worn pair of jeans.
Natural dye and garment dyed
For some styles, the shirt is only dyed after it has been sewn. This process is called "garment dyed". The finished piece absorbs the colour as a whole, including seams and cuffs. This makes the fabric particularly soft to the touch and gives it a subtle vintage look. One example is the Natural Garment Dyed T-shirt in Onion Skin.
The material: 100 % organic cotton
The natural dye shirts are made from 100 % organic cotton, as single jersey or slub jersey depending on the style. We explain the difference from conventional cotton in Organic cotton or conventional cotton. The certificate that applies to each shirt is shown on the product page in the "Production" tab. Our Certificates page gives an overview.
How to keep plant colours looking good for longer
- Wash separately or with similar colours: some colour may run, especially in the first few washes.
- Wash cool: wash according to the care label at a low temperature and inside out.
- Mild detergent: use a colour or delicates detergent without optical brighteners and without bleach.
- Dry in the shade: plant colours are more sensitive to sunlight. Dry the shirt in the air, but not in direct sun.
More on this in our care instructions.
FAQ
Does a natural dye shirt run?
In the first few washes, some colour may go into the wash water. So wash the shirt separately or with similar colours at first.
Why does my shirt look different from the photo?
Plant colours turn out slightly different from one dye batch to the next. Small variations in shade are typical of the technique.
Do plant colours fade?
They become softer and lighter over time, especially in a lot of sunlight. Washing cool and drying in the shade keeps the colour for longer.
