Georgina Langdale
Catechu
English Name: Catechu, Cutch
Botanical Name: Acacia Catechu
Colouring Component: Gallotannic Acid
GOTS certified
Acacia Catechu is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to 15 m (50 ft) in height. The plant is called khair in Hindi and kachu in Malay, hence the name was Latinized to “catechu” in Linnaean taxonomy, Other common names include kher, catechu, cachou, cutchtree, black cutch, and black catechu.
Catechu gives beautiful reddish brown colours depending on the mordants used. Our catechu gives a wonderful, rich cinnamon brown with an alum mordant The color shifts to a deep chocolate brown with the addition of iron.
Dyeing process :-
It is an excellent choice for cellulose fibres, because it is tannic enough to pre-treat them or to use as a dye on its own. For intense browns on cotton, pre-treat with catechu, then mordant with alum at 10% WoF for 30mins at 80c, and then dye in a second catechu bath.
For medium shades use catetchu at 10% WoF and dye the fibre for 1 hour at 100C.
Then wash with non-ionic soap.
Guide:
50 grams of Catechu extract is enough for 500grams Weight of Fabric for a medium shade.
INSPIRATION IS ORGANIC
I have sourced these G.O.T.S. certified plant dyes from partners I worked with in India when I was creating beautiful healing herb textiles. It is lovely to be partnering with my colleagues again in order to make these dyes available.
F.A.Q.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DYE AND A PIGMENT?
The main difference between them is that dyes are soluble, while pigments are insoluble and are suspended in a medium or binder.
WHERE DO YOUR PLANT DYES COME FROM?
I source my dyes from my partners in India whom I have collaborated with since 2015. I will also be growing some dye plants in the my gardens and hope to have them available in due course.
ARE PLANT DYES HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT?
No they are not. They are all grown sustainably. They are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifed. The GOTS standard was developed by leading standard setters to define world-wide recognised requirements for organic textiles.
Water from the dyeing process can be used on the garden, and plant material can be added to compost.
