Why not natural dyes?
Contrary to popular opinion, natural dyes are often neither safer nor more ecologically sound than synthetic dyes. They are less permanent, more difficult to apply, wash out more easily, and often involve the use of highly toxic mordants. However, not all mordants are equally toxic, and the idea of natural dyestuffs is aesthetically pleasing. Mordants are used to “fix” or bond the dye to the fiber. Some natural dyes, such as the hematein derived from logwood, are themselves significantly poisonous. Of course, the color possibilities are far more limited than synthetic dyes.
