Eco-Friendly Colour Trends in Fashion
The world of fashion relies on vibrant hues. However, the irony of these beautiful hues is the harm it is causing to the environment. After oil, the fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world. Harmful dyes are solely responsible for this. Traditional dyes contain harsh chemicals including formaldehyde and heavy metals like lead. Once a fabric has been dyed, these chemicals are disposed of into soil and water. This further has devastating effects on aquatic life and human health. In the long run, it can be detrimental as well. For this reason, conventional dyeing processes are under scrutiny, and large fashion houses are switching to plant-based dyes and eco-friendly colours.
What are Eco-friendly Dyes?
As the name suggests, eco-friendly dyes are derived from natural, non-toxic and biodegradable sources including plants, minerals and insects. They are also referred to as natural or plant-based dyes, and have been used since centuries. These dyes are primarily produced to minimise environmental impact and promote sustainability in the fashion industry. When we refer to organic or eco-friendly colour schemes, we’re usually talking about shades composed of earthy tones including green, yellow, brown, red, pastels and neutral tones.
Brands that use sustainable dyes for their collection can convey a sense of product authenticity. Today’s consumers are eco-conscious. They’re constantly on the lookout for brands that adopt environmental-friendly processes. Also, when your fashion products follow one particular colour scheme, there is a sense of warmth and calmness.
Types of Eco-friendly Dyes
Plant-based Dyes
These dyes are derived from various parts of the plant including leaves, flowers, roots and fruits. For example, to derive a bright-yellow colour, the dye is made from the root of the turmeric plant. Indigo on the other hand is derived from the indigo plant. For thousands of years, it’s been used to dye denim. To get a mustard yellow or brown shade, henna is used. This is derived from the leaves of the henna plant. It’s also used for skin and hair dyeing. Besides this, fruit and vegetable dyes are also popular which are derived from berries. For earthy tones and shades, coffee and tea are used.
Animal-based Dyes
Animal-based dyes are also natural. They’re derived from insects and other animals. For example, cochineal is a red dye made from cochineal insects. These insects are native to Central and South America. Besides being used as a natural textile dye, it is also used as food colouring and in cosmetics. Another popular dye is sepia. It is derived from the ink sacs of cuttlefish. It’s used in art and textiles. The colour is a warm, brown-grey.
Microbial Dyes
Microbial dyes are produced by bacteria and fungi. These innovative dyes are quickly gaining momentum owing to their sustainability and vibrant colours. Similarly, there are also algae-based dyes. Using an emerging and innovative technology, algae is used to produce vibrant colours. Though this is still in its early stages; the results will be promising in the future.
Recycled Dyes
A new colour trend in the fashion industry is relying on recycled dyes. These are dyes made from food scraps and industrial by-products. The dyes created from waste products not just creates beautiful colours but also tackles the waste problem.
Upcycled Dyes
Then there are upcycled dyes. In this method, existing dyed fabrics are used to create new colours and patterns. This method is not just sustainable but also gives the fabric a new lease.
Methods used for Sustainable Dyeing
Exhaust Dyeing
This is the most popular method used. It is also referred to as batch dyeing. It involves immersing textiles in a dye bath. While this method is widely used, it is water intensive and also a significant contributor of waste.
Continuous Dyeing
As the name implies, in this process, the textiles are passed through a series of dye baths. This method significantly uses less water.
Digital Printing
In digital printing, the dye is applied directly to the textile using inkjet technology. In this method, the water and chemical use is negligible. However, it is a far more sustainable option compared to traditional dyeing.
Waterless Dyeing
This is a breakthrough innovation in the fashion industry. It is a waterless dye technology that uses zero water. It is a game-changing alternative to traditional dyeing.
Conclusion
Ongoing research and development suggest that sustainable dyeing is going to be the future of fashion. Driven by consumer demand for transparency and eco-friendly practices, brands too are tweaking their business model. In order to make sustainable fashion mainstream, it is important for students to learn the challenges at the grassroot level. Thus, at Vogue, all our fashion and apparel design courses are centred around sustainability while adhering to ethical and environmental guidelines.
