Whats the big deal about natural plant dyes vs. chemical dyes?
Many people think that natural plant dyes create more beautiful rugs – but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Natural plant dyes – such as indigo and madder – create uniquely beautiful effects due to natural dyes’ variation and harmony, and their wonderful warm colors. On the other hand, the best synthetic dyes produce a greater variety of hues and are also extremely stable to light. The appeal of natural dyes is the wonderful colors – which tend to be warmer and without the “metallic” look seen in synthetic dyes. Part of the appeal of natural dyes comes from the variation of the color on the yarn – a phenomenon called abrash. This causes slight variations within a particular hue in the rug, usually seen as horizontal striations. Natural dyes also age more gracefully. In combination with good wool, they are why a rug develops the rich patina over the years that one sees in an antique.
