We're thrilled to present our exciting new passion project here in Bali - a creative endeavor to transform our white Mini Muse slouch in into vibrant, eco-friendly masterpieces using natural plant dyes, specifically derived from mango leaves.
This project aligns with our commitment to sustainability and environmental consciousness, showcasing the beauty and benefits of using plant-based dyes.
Like all our dyes they are free of toxic substances like azo dyes, formaldehyde, flame retardants, phthalates, chlorine bleach, heavy metals, or other dangerous chemicals commonly found in fabric dyes.
"Visiting the dye Mill and learning each step in the process spoke to our environmental values and was something I knew I wanted to make work"
Mango leaves
Plant dyes offer a broad spectrum of colours, each with its own unique and natural hue. Mango leaves, for instance, can yield various shades of green, making the dyeing process an exciting experiment in color creation.
Sustainable Harvesting
The colour extraction process is lengthier than typical dyeing. It involves chopping and air-drying leaves, followed by a 7 to 8-hour boil to obtain the colour extract. Nonetheless, leaves are the key ingredient in natural dyeing, thanks to their easy availability, sustainability (no tree cutting), and the potential for using leaf waste as compost.
Step 1
Select healthy mango leaves from mature trees, preferably during the growing season to ensure optimal pigment content.
Step 2
Shread the leaves into smaller pieces and place them in a large tank of boiling water. Boil for 7+ hours.
Step 3
Let the dye bath cool and strain out the leaves to obtain a concentrated dye solution.
Step 4
Stir to ensure even distribution of the dye.Let the jumper soak in the dye bath for an adequate period to achieve the desired colour intensity.
Benefits of Plant Dyes:
Eco-Friendly: Plant dyes are biodegradable and environmentally sustainable. They do not release harmful chemicals into the environment during the dyeing process or after disposal.
Renewable and Abundant: Plants used for dyeing, like mango leaves, are renewable resources that can be sustainably harvested without depleting the natural ecosystem.
Health and Safety: Plant dyes are non-toxic and pose no health risks to individuals handling them during the dyeing process.
Reduced Water Consumption: Compared to synthetic dyeing processes, dyeing with plant-based dyes often requires less waste.
Rich and Unique Colours: Plant dyes offer a broad spectrum of colours, each with its own unique and natural hue.
Whilst here in Bali we have experimented with the traditional techniques of natural plant dyes. We have taken our much loved white Mini Muse top and overdyed it with the natural colour extracted from the mango leaf.
The process involves chopping the leaves, drying them, and boiling them for 7+ hours to obtain the unique colour extract then our mini muse tops are soaked in the dye for another 5+ hours.
Natural plant dyed from Mango leaves.
Boucle Embroidery Mini Muse logo
Lightweight summer fleece (thicker than a Tee but not as thick as a winter jumper)
Fit Info: Slouchy oversized Fit. Sonny is 2 wearing the 2-4yr top.
Visiting the dye Mill and learning each step in the process spoke to our environmental values with no need to cut down trees, allowing them to grow, and using any leaf waste as compost.
