2020 • Biology • Textiles
The dye extraction process uses nine primary sources including purple cabbage, rose petals, madder root, alkanet, chlorophyll, black bean, turmeric, cochineal, and pomegranate skins, each yielding distinct base colors through water or alcohol extraction. Natural fiber textiles—silk, cotton, and linen—are prepared through scouring to remove oils and contaminants before mordanting. Three metallic mordants (iron, copper, alum) are applied to pre-treat fibers, creating different chemical bonds that dramatically shift final colors from the same dye source. Additional pH modifiers (vinegar for acidic, baking soda for alkaline) further alter pigment expression, with some dyes shifting from red to blue across the pH spectrum. The systematic combination of nine dye sources, three textiles, three mordants, and two modifiers generates 243+ unique colors. This work demonstrates the chromatic complexity achievable through pre-industrial textile dyeing techniques. 
