At the moment toxic chemicals are often used to dye textiles. To attach the dye to the (plant- or animal-based) textile many toxic fixating agents are needed. However, there are environmentally friendly ways to dye fabrics. One example of this is dyeing with eucalyptus, which Wieteke Opmeer taught Fioen van Balgooi.
With the silver grey leaf of the eucalyptus plant it is possible to create many different colours and shades. You can create bright orange to light yellow shades, but also brown, green and greyish shades. There are many different types of eucalyptus that all have their own leaf shape. You can also create patterns with the leaves. Because of this you don’t have to use toxic silkscreen ink.
The eucalyptus dye attaches best to animal-based textiles (such as wool and silk). To use plant-based textiles you have to prepare these first. Fixating textile dyed with eucalyptus is not necessary because the plant-dye attaches very well on its own. When washing out the tests almost no dye came off because of this.
To create different colours you can use fresh leaves (bright orange on wool, salmon on organic cotton), old leaves (camel on wool, light camel on organic cotton), fresh leaves with copper elements (red/brown on wool, grey/brown on organic cotton) and fresh leaves with iron elements (brown on wool, but dark grey on organic cotton) Although I personally prefer not to use copper or iron because of the harm it can do to the environment.
The used plant material can be composted after use, the used dye water can safely return to nature because it does not contain any toxic additions, however please pay attention to the PH-value of the water. The water- and material use is also low. When dyeing with eucalyptus there are many factors that may influence the colour outcome such as; the kind of plant, the hardness of the water, the temperature and the time span. So for industrial use this application is not yet suitable.
With the silver grey leaf of the eucalyptus plant it is possible to create many different colours and shades. You can create bright orange to light yellow shades, but also brown, green and greyish shades. There are many different types of eucalyptus that all have their own leaf shape. You can also create patterns with the leaves. Because of this you don’t have to use toxic silkscreen ink.
The eucalyptus dye attaches best to animal-based textiles (such as wool and silk). To use plant-based textiles you have to prepare these first. Fixating textile dyed with eucalyptus is not necessary because the plant-dye attaches very well on its own. When washing out the tests almost no dye came off because of this.
To create different colours you can use fresh leaves (bright orange on wool, salmon on organic cotton), old leaves (camel on wool, light camel on organic cotton), fresh leaves with copper elements (red/brown on wool, grey/brown on organic cotton) and fresh leaves with iron elements (brown on wool, but dark grey on organic cotton) Although I personally prefer not to use copper or iron because of the harm it can do to the environment.
The used plant material can be composted after use, the used dye water can safely return to nature because it does not contain any toxic additions, however please pay attention to the PH-value of the water. The water- and material use is also low. When dyeing with eucalyptus there are many factors that may influence the colour outcome such as; the kind of plant, the hardness of the water, the temperature and the time span. So for industrial use this application is not yet suitable.
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