Colors from Nature

Before textile coloring pigment is mass produced, natural dyes is the common practice in the making of textiles. Each pigments would be processed from plants from the same area where each fabric is made. The colors are distinct and craftsmanship of its own.

Tints and shades of brown color such as this one, may come from different sources such as , soga (Peltophorum pterocarpum) tree bark, processed young teak tree leaves, avocado tree leaves, tea leaves, coconut fibers and onion skin. 

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Indigo blue is widely used in Southeast Asia. There are over 100 plants known to produce indigo blue such as Indigofera tinctoria and Polygonum tinctorium. In Indonesia Indigofera tinctoria or Tarum is most commonly used. 


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Shades of red colors may come from Morinda roots and Kesumba (Bixa orelana) seeds. 

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While turmeric is widely used in Indonesian food, turmeric is also used for textile coloring to get its yellow shades of color. 

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To achieve darker colors like this, the craftsman would process to dye threads twice or more times. Here on the Ikat Geringsing, the threads would be dyed in Morinda red and in Indigo blue before going into weaving loom.

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