| Several years ago (beginning with DOBAG project in | | | | particular attention to soft shades like reds and |
| Turkey) the term natural or "vegetable" dye began to | | | | yellows. If these colors are consistent from piece to |
| creep back into the lexicon of international carpet | | | | piece it is probably the work of synthetic dyes. Before |
| buyers. Over the last few years we have seen more | | | | you go and discount every consistently colored rug on |
| and more consumers, as well as producers, using this | | | | the market as a nasty "Synthetic" dyed rug you need |
| term as a mark of superiority when buying or selling a | | | | to consider the second myth about Natural Dyes; that |
| rug. As a "green" store many of our customers come | | | | they are "greener" than "Synthetic" dyes. While natural |
| to us in search of these "healthier" naturally dyed rugs. | | | | ingredients such as walnut husk and madder make |
| The truth is however, that very few rugs that claim to | | | | great shades of brown and red, they do not inherently |
| be naturally dyed actually are. And those that are, are | | | | want to bond with fibers in order to produce colored |
| not necessarily better than there synthetically dyed | | | | yarn. In order to do so a mordant must be used to |
| counterparts. | | | | bound the dye stuff to the fiber. Many of the common |
| Recently the term vegetable dye seems to have | | | | mordants use varying concentrations of chromium |
| passed from a small group of buyers "in the know" | | | | (very toxic) or alum (less but still toxic) as a catalyst to |
| along to the general public and in the process, become | | | | assist in the bonding. |
| a buzz word that could be marketed on. Many | | | | Even with these agents, Natural dye (in general) does |
| producers have jumped on this tend and quickly | | | | not absorb efficiently into the fiber requiring extremely |
| boasted "vegetable dyed" product in order to charge | | | | large quantities of dye stuff and mordant (typically |
| premiums. With the rise in popularity of all things "green" | | | | twice the weight of the fiber. This absorption |
| this trend has only increased. However, there is no third | | | | fluctuation is also what makes controlling the shades of |
| party certification or other industry standard that exists | | | | vegetable dyed colors so hard). All of this can result in |
| to certify these claims. So how can one be sure? The | | | | a tremendous amount of waste water run off and |
| truth is that you probably cannot know for sure aside | | | | contamination. Contrast this with low impact synthetic |
| from asking a lot of questions and buying from a | | | | dyes (sometimes referred to as Swiss Dyes) or |
| reputable source. But there are a few signs that can | | | | Fibre-reactive dyes. Low impact dyes are |
| tip you that someone is making a false claim. | | | | manufactured pigments which are designed with a |
| Vegetable dyed rug colors are inherently difficult to | | | | greater absorption rate into the wool (typically at least |
| control (more on that below). | | | | 70% of the dye must be absorbed to be considered |
| If someone is selling you, what they are referring to as, | | | | low impact). Generally these dyes do not contain toxic |
| a 100% naturally dyed rug and you see another | | | | chemicals or require mordants resulting in less rinsing. |
| exactly like it in the showroom (or they assure you it | | | | Higher absorption rates and less rinsing result in less |
| can be made to look exactly alike) chances are that | | | | waste water and therefore less contamination. |
| this rug is at least partially dyed with synthetics. Pay | | | | |