The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has identified 12 indigenous plants for manufacturing natural textile dyes. A study by the College of Agriculture (CoA), Vellayani, as part of the Western Ghat Development Programme (WGDP), has identified 12 indigenous plants capable of giving colour to cotton and silk textiles. This will provide an organic option for dyeing.
The technology for using these plants for commercial textile industry has been standardised under another research project sponsored by the RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana). The technology will be of great value in the development of eco-friendly and safe clothing, especially for newborns and people allergic to synthetic dyes.
“The research has opened up the possibility of using indigenous plants of Kerala as potential dye yielders. We are looking forward to industrial production of natural dyes for commercial textile industry,†said KAU Vice Chancellor P Rajendran. Plant dyes were used for garment dyeing and wall paintings till the advent of synthetic dyes in the 16th century.