Skip to main content
A+ A A-

Traditional Dyes and Crafts used in the Collections

HomeJanan | Poshan | Vardhan | Rakshan | Parayan

Natural Dyes:

Common Name: Madder (Manjistha)
Botanical Name: Rubia cordifolia
Range of colors: Shades of Red, Pink & Orange
Medicinal Properties:

  • Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, sedative, stimulant
  • Blood purifier and diuretic, leprosy
  • It removes blood impurities and cures various skin diseases, HIV/AIDS

Manjistha

Image Source : https://www.naturesrainbow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Madder-768x509.jpg

Common Name: Turmeric (Haldi)
Botanical Name: Curcuma longa
Range of colors: Shades of Yellow & Green
Medicinal Properties:

  • Antihepatotoxic, antioxidant, antimicrobial antiseptic, antiallergic
  • Fighting skin diseases and helps fight skin disease, anaemia, psoriasis, liver disorders

haldi

Image Source : https://kadiyamnursery.com/cdn/shop/products/Curcumadomestica_730x730.jpg?v=1680929165

Common Name: Onion (Pyaaz)
Botanical Name: Allium cepa
Range of colors: Shades of Light Yellow, Brown & Green
Medicinal Properties:

  • Antioxidant, antimicrobial
  • Skin diseases, control diabetes

Pyaaz

Image Source : https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/AZuo3ZhCSNpyUZvAPGfhCHMlTow=/750x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/growing-onions-1403447-01-38d480a2d16d4ea0b0dd174f42785e1d.jpg

Common Name: Indigo
Botanical Name: Indigofera tinctoria
Range of colors: Shades of Blue & Green
Medicinal Properties:

  • Antibacterial, antiallergy, antiseptic and aromatic, anti-inflammatory properties
  • Controls cholesterol, helps reducing the insulin resistance, thus controls diabetes, boosts immunity, anaemia, skin diseases

Indigo

Image Source : https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/aojm4-Iz7gjVNqQ8WHm6ubZcTts=/750x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-grow-and-care-for-false-indigo-1402900_1-070b3084eac14ef982fef9e35b0ee467.jpg

Common Name: Brazil wood
Botanical Name: Caesalpinia echinata
Range of colors: Shades of Pink & Red
Medicinal Properties:

  • Blood purifier, anti-irritant
  • Skin diseases such as burns, bruises, and skin inflammations

wood

Image Source : https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0067/3605/2287/files/Flowers_and_Leaves_of_the_Brazil_Wood.png?v=1619974283

Common Name: Baheda
Botanical Name: Terminalia bellirica
Range of colors: Shades of Black & Brown
Medicinal Properties:

  • Controls cholesterol
  • Hypertension, anaemia

baheda

Image Source : https://image.myupchar.com/16075/webp/baheda-benefits-uses-dosage-side-effects.webp

Traditional Craft:

Craft Name: Dori Embroidery
Location: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; Delhi
Community: Not Specific
Similar Crafts in the world: Most of Silk thread embroideries

Dori – is said to have been derived, from the Hindi language, roughly translating to mean 'thread'. This form of embroidery-work is versatile in the true sense, owing to the vast variety of colours and stitching styles that can come under this form of embroidery. A distinct feature of Dori embroidery is the apparent thickness of the thread that gives this embellishment a 3- dimensional appearance. A careful combination of refined Silk and Cotton threads is used to make the ‘Dori’.

Zardozi stitches and couching stitch-works are taken under the wings of Dori work, accompanied with multi-coloured and finest quality of threads.

Process:

  • The motifs or patterns are first imprinted onto the fabric, utilizing a stencil/silhouette impression.
  • Once the patterns are drawn, the refined resham (silk) and cotton threads are twisted together to form one single Dori.
  • The Dori is used to trace the motif designs and patterns drawn on the fabric.
  • The artisans use other embroidery stitches in order to add improvisations if necessary.
  • Aesthetic colour threads are used to enhance the overall look.
  • Dori Embroidery can be practiced by hand or using an embroidery machine.

dori

Source :
https://www.faridagupta.com/blog/art-of-dori-embriodery#:~:text=The%20motifs%20or%20patterns%20are,process%20is%20the%20tracing%20work
https://www.utsavpedia.com/motifs-embroideries/unveiling-the-thread-world-of-fashion-dori-work/#:~:text=Origin%20and%20History,a%20%27stitched%20work%27%20essence
https://www.utsavpedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/dori.jpg

Craft Name: Lace Making & Embroidery
Location: Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Community: Not Specific
Similar Crafts in the world: Lace making in Kerala

A delicate fabric made out of thread in an open web like pattern by machine or hand is called Lace. Originally linen, silk, gold, or silver threads were used to make exquisite and fine laces by hand. Now it is is often made with cotton thread, although linen and silk threads are still available. Manufactured lace may be made of synthetic fibre.

Process:

  • Threads are wound to a bobbin using winding machine.
  • The selected design traced on a cardboard is pierced at regular intervals on a cardboard by use of pins.
  • Cardboard is placed on the pillow and bobbins which are made in pairs are interlaced step by step around the pins.
  • Weaving starts by movement of the bobbins along the patterns.
  • After the lace is made, it is attached to the different fabric.

lace making

Source :
https://www.dsource.in/resource/lace-craft-kanyakumari-tamilnadu/introduction
https://www.dsource.in/resource/lace-craft-kanyakumari-tamilnadu/making-process
http://www.discoveredindia.com/kerala/handicrafts-in-kerala/lace-and-embrodiery.htm
https://i.etsystatic.com/6673445/r/il/62d757/3211643570/il_794xN.3211643570_dojp.jpg

Craft Name: Screen Printing
Location: Ahmedabad, Kutch; Gujarat
Community: Not Specific
Similar Crafts in the world: Various centers like Jaipur, Bikaner, Barmer, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata etc.

Screen printing is a printing technique where a mesh or screen is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink or printing paste. The impermeable areas are created with the help of photographic emulsion. The photographic emulsion technique involves a coating of photosensitive substance on the screen, reacting with light and becoming insoluble. The screen is usually made of fine material like nylon, polyester or silk. Metallic fibres are also used to create the screen mesh. There are various types of mesh sizes that determine the outcome and fineness of the finished design on the material. The screen material enables the print paste to pass through the interstices between the yarns.

As with other methods of colour transfer, the number of screens needed for a design depend on the number of colours used. The width of the screen determines the repeat size of the print.

Process:

  • The design to be created is printed on a transparent acetate film, which works as stencil.
  • The appropriate mesh is chosen, stretched on the frame and coated with a photo sensitive emulsion.
  • The printed design on the acetate film is laid on the emulsion coated mesh and exposed to bright light.
  • The area with print stays soluble, whereas the area exposed to the light gets hardened.
  • Soluble parts are washed off and screen is ready for printing.
  • The fabric is stretched on the printing table.
  • The requisite color of paint/dye is applied and squeezed across the screen placed on the fabric.
  • The print appears on the fabric.
  • Number of screens depends on the number of colors used in design.

screen printing

Source :
https://anuprerna.com/crafts/screen-printing#:~:text=SCREEN%20PRINTING,was%20used%20in%20the%20process
http://www.keithrawling.com/Printing%20in%20India/DSC_1556w.jpg