This is a great item if you want to experiment with natural dyes but you aren’t quite ready to dive into the mordanting part of the process. This 100% habotai silk scarf has been scoured and mordanted and is ready for you to apply color to it!

Half of the natural dye process happens before any color is applied. If you want the colors you are making to be bright and to last a long time, you need to prepare your fabric with something called mordant. There are several materials you can use, we use a non-toxic chemical called aluminum potassium sulfate for our protein fibers such as silk. This acts as a liaison between the textile and the dye, making sure the color more permanently penetrates the textile. Without it, your colors won’t be as bright and will fade quickly.

First the silk is scoured in a gentle textile detergent to remove any debris that would cause the fibers to not take up dye. Then it is submerged in the mordant bath for several days. We then dry it and iron it and get it ready to ship to you!

We also sell natural dyes in a variety of color that you can experiment with.