| The Concept of Herbal Textile | | | | Herbal textiles are mostly used in making bedsheets, |
| Herbal Textile is dyed entirely with herbal extractions, | | | | undergarments, and other such garments that stay |
| without using any sort of chemicals. The herbs used | | | | close to human skin so that all the benefits could be |
| are different from vegetable dyes as they are not | | | | absorbed through the skin. |
| only natural but also have medicinal value. These herbs | | | | Other Benefits of Herbal Textile |
| are applied directly to the fabric with the help of natural | | | | Herbal textiles are not only eco-friendly but they leave |
| ingredients, so that the medicinal value of the herbs | | | | certain residues that can be further used for making |
| can be kept intact. No chemical process is adopted | | | | other environmental friendly products. |
| while dyeing. Even bleaching of cloth is done naturally | | | | • The solid as well as liquid wastes from herbal |
| by exposing it to sunlight. The herbs also do not pollute | | | | dyeing process can be recycled to be further used as |
| the environment through contamination of water | | | | manure in fields. |
| resources in areas close to processing units. All kinds | | | | • Some of the environmentally conscious industries |
| of shades of red, yellow, brown, orange and green etc. | | | | engaged in producing herbal textiles, make organically |
| can be prepared with the help of these herbs. | | | | recycled textile paper bags by stitching the leftover |
| The Healing Effects of Herbal Textile | | | | organic and herbal dyed fabrics which can counter the |
| As we now know that herbal textile is dyed with | | | | growing menace of plastic bag pollution. |
| herbs having medicinal property, it is natural that the | | | | • It also promotes cultivation of herbs required for |
| end products made with it will definitely have some or | | | | the dyeing process of herbal textiles. |
| the other health benefits. Herbal Textile can, in fact, | | | | Herbal Dyes- Production and Consumption |
| fight diseases like hypertension, heart ailments, asthma | | | | Herbal textiles can be priced more competitively than |
| and diabetes depending upon the herb used to make | | | | the conventional fabrics due to its low production cost. |
| the dyes. Some of the examples will help to | | | | If a comparison is made, a plain chemical dye costs |
| understand the healing effects of herbal textile. | | | | around $75per kg while a herbal dye costs approx. |
| • Indigo: This herbal dye helps in fighting skin | | | | $5per kg. |
| diseases. | | | | Most of the herbs used in dyeing herbal textile are |
| • Cuscus Grass: It helps in fighting asthma. | | | | cultivated in South East Asian countries such as India, |
| • Turmeric: It can cure pain and is also beneficial for | | | | Pakistan, and Bangladesh, India being the leading |
| enhancing skin qualities. | | | | producer. The Handloom Weavers Development |
| • Sandalwood: Its mild fragrance has a soothing | | | | Society (HLWDS) of Kerala, India has exported herbal |
| effect that helps in fighting stress. | | | | and organic textile worth Rs.50 Lakh to US, Europe |
| Some of the other herbal dyes are catechu, | | | | and Japan. The herbal textile is becoming so popular |
| pomegranate rind, madder, castor oil, sweet basil, lime, | | | | that the Japanese Government has given HLWDS a |
| wild turmeric, henna, curry leaf tree, aloe, certain herbal | | | | grant of $40,218. |
| fruits etc. each having their own healing effects. | | | | |