Our service

Natural dyes offer a more sustainable production option to businesses selling textile based products. The natural dye studio at Green Matters works with makers, designers, and production teams to produce the color they desire from plant materials. Every fiber accepts botanical dye in different ways, making every dye lot we produce 100% unique. We partner with a variety of mills, farms and other textile manufacturing businesses to help clients who want to source sustainable fibers and finishing services.

To learn more about our new custom dye service for individuals, please click below:

Custom Samples:
Each type of fiber takes natural dyes a little differently. It is important that we begin developing a color palette on the same fabric or fiber you will be using in production. For each dye you are interested in, we will process 3-4 swatches in our dye lab demonstrating the colors that are achievable on your fiber. 

• Yardage: If you would like to have yardage dyed or piece dyeing, after swatching we dye 1-10 yards of sample yardage. This allows us to understand how much the fabric will shrink in the dye process, and give the designer enough to produce sample garments. 

• Yarn: Skein dyeing is how we process yarn. After swatching colors, we dye one 100- gram skein in each color desired.

• Garment Dyeing: If the designer wants dyeing to be the last step in manufacturing, garment dyeing is the way to go. After swatching, we process 1 garment in each style being dyed. This allows us to measure shrinkage, and allows for the designer to account for ease in pattern making.

Production:
Our lead times vary. Please allow 4 weeks for swatches or sample yardage. Typically, amounts of 1000 yards or 500 pounds require more than 4 weeks. For larger orders, please inquire below. 
Our dye service includes:

• A pre-wash, called scouring

• A pre-mordant bath using metal salts and minerals to help the dye bind to the fiber

• Dye bath

• Washing

• Finishing (Drying, packaging)

Cochineal 

Iron

Marigold 

Our dyes 

Fustic  

Indigo 

Cutch

Logwood 

Madder

Lac

Green Matters works with designers and makers to produce the color they desire from plant materials. Send us your color standards and we will develop color samples for you to choose from. We will then proceed to dye yardage, yarn, or pieces that you provide. Interested in sustainable fiber? We can source ethical fiber for you through our network of fiber farms and suppliers.  The nature of this dye service is to customize to the client and provide a unique product as suited to your quantity needs. 

Natural dye lots are 100% unique each time. One cotton may not accept a dye the same as another cotton. The type of fiber also greatly influences how a dye will be accepted. Protein fibers, like silk, wool, cashmere, mohair, etc will accept natural dyes in deep, bold, saturated colors. Cellulose fibers will accept dye in neutral, light, soft tones. 

Our service includes

• a pre-wash, called scouring

• a pre-mordant bath using metal salts and minerals to help the dye bind to the fiber

• the dye, this is sometimes done multiple times to achieve the desired depth of shade

• a calcium carbonate wash

• a final cold wash