Legacy in Colour: Sri Lanka’s Timeless Natural Dye Tradition
In Sri Lanka's textile sector, a deeprooted tradition in natural dyeing spans centuries and is intertwined with the nation's rich textile heritage. The country's abundant biodiversity has yielded a diverse range of botanical resources, providing a wealth of natural pigments essential to the garment industry. Key industry players in the Sri Lankan apparel industry, such as Hayleys Fabric PLC, Noyon Pvt Ltd, Dynawash, and Ocean Lanka lead this movement, leveraging natural dyes to cater to international markets increasingly prioritising environmentally responsible products, the four companies said in a joint media release.
Hayleys Fabric is at the forefront of eco-conscious fashion, revolutionising a new era in sustainable textiles. Its commitment to sustainability is vividly portrayed through organic, eco-friendly fabrics woven from natural dyes. Collaborating with nature, the company has harnessed the power of Neem, Thulsi and a selection of natural dyes derived from pomegranate, mulberry, Mexican marigold, Mahogany wood and black clutch, expanding the horizons of environmentally friendly textiles.
Recognised among the Top 10 global innovations at ISPO Textrends Spring/Summer 2024, Hayleys Fabric’s ‘Warna by Mahogany’ is the natural dye innovation that has become an industry game changer.
The company recently earned recognition for its 'Midnight by Charcoal' range, a novel collection of textiles featuring organic prints from biomass charcoal waste. In collaboration with its subsidiary, South Asia Textile Private Limited, the 'Midnight' range received international acclaim, securing a spot among the 'Top 10 Innovations in the Street Sports' category at ISPO Munich.
As a subsidiary of MAS Holdings, Noyon Lanka has revolutionised sustainable dyeing with its innovative 'Planetones'. This 100 per cent natural dye range, accredited with the prestigious 'Eco Dye Standard' by the Control Union, marks a significant stride in environmentally conscious dyeing methods. Planetones does not use any metal modent in the dye formulation. Offering a palette of over 50 vibrant colours for polyamides, this solution covers 90 per cent of the colour spectrum barring a brilliant white and jet black. This product is applicable to fabric, elastics, lace, nylon-coated trims and accessories as well as applications such as garment wash.
This innovation is not limited to just vibrant hues but extends to substantial environmental impact through its dyeing process, as assessed by “Bluwin”, with over 50 per cent reductions in water consumption, energy usage, GHG emissions, positioning 'Planetones' as the benchmark for eco-friendly dyeing practices in the industry.
T Hues, recently granted a patent in India, represents an innovative leap in Sri Lanka's textile industry, ushering in a new era of sustainable garment dyeing. Born from a collaborative effort between SLINTEC, Unilever, and Dynawash, this innovation utilises tea waste to create a versatile 52-color palette. It features a unique blend comprising 80 per cent natural and 20 per cent synthetic dyes, offering remarkable versatility across various fabric compositions, including cotton, nylon, and blends.