Cotton Fiber Properties: Cotton is the Cellulosic fiber and widely used fiber in all over the world.

Cotton fiber is very popular due to its several attractive and useful properties. There are some properties of Cotton Fibre that are worth mentioning too

Comfortable: Cotton fiber has large amorphous portion and this is why the air can be in and out through cotton fiber. So, the fabric made by cotton fiber is quite comfortable to use. Soft Hand: Cotton fiber is too much regular fiber and if properly ginned; this fibre can be the best soft hand feeling fibre amongst the others. Absorbent: Cotton fiber has high absorbency power and this is why this fiber can be died properly and without any harassment. Good Color Retention: If the printing is applied on cotton fiber, it seems it doesnt spread the color outside the design. So printing efficiency is good on cotton fibre. Machine Washable & Dry Cleanable: It is seen that some fibers cant be dried or washed due to its sensitivity and weak fastness properties but in case of Cotton fiber you will have large number of options to choose. You can easily wash the cotton made fabric by machines and even you will be able to dry this fiber by using electronic drier.

Good Strength: If you want to seek an average strength which might be enough for you; then cotton fiber can be your ultimate choice. The strength of cotton fiber is quite good. Cotton Fibre Drapes Well: The drape-ability of cotton fibre is awesome. You can use the cotton fibre made fabric in any kind of wear which needs more flexibility and drapes. Sewing & Handling Is Easy: The sewing efficiency on Cotton made fabric is easier and comfortable than other fiber. This is why the demand of cotton made fabric is higher in all over the world.

Uses of Cotton Fibre: Cotton fiber is a versatile fibre which has wide variety of uses. But the Cotton fibre is mostly used on the Apparel Industry to make the wearing cloth like Sweaters, Skirts, Shirts, Swimwear, Kids wear, Blouses, Pants, Hosiery and to make other type of dresses.

Natural Indigo
Common Name: Natural Indigo, Indigo, Indian Indigo Botanical Name: Indigofera tinctoria Our Trade Name: INDO BLUE Natural Dye: Blue Dyestuff for Textile This is one of the most ancient Natural Dyes used by Man in textiles. Indigo is about 2-3 feet long plant, cultivated on thousands of acres of land in India. The whole plant is used for extraction of dye and the extract form of dye is supplied in powder form. This give deep blue color on wool, silk, cotton etc. It exhibits good fastness to washing, crocking and Light. This is the only Natural Dye, which falls under Vat category of dyes. We are among the largest exporter of Natural Indigo from India.

Pomegranate
Common Name: Pomegranate, Anaar Botanical Name: Punica granatum Our Trade Name: Mallow Natural Dye: Yellow dyestuff for Textiles. Pomegranate is one of the most largely consumed fruits in Asia. The dye is extracted from its fruit rind. The color obtained exhibit good fastness to washing rubbing and light. At times this dye is also used as mordant and is over dyed with other Natural Dye to improve fastness of later.

Advantages and limitations of natural dyes Natural dyes are less toxic, less polluting, less health hazard-ous, non-carcinogenic and non-poisonous. Added to this,they are harmonizing colours, gentle, soft and subtle, andcreate a restful effect. Above all, they are environment-friendly and can be recycled after use.Although natural dyes have several advantages, thereare some limitations as well. Tedious extraction of col-ouring component from the raw material, low colourvalue and longer time make the cost of dyeing with naturaldyes considerably higher than with synthetic dyes. Someof the natural dyes are fugitive and need a mordant forenhancement of their fastness properties. Some of the meta-llic mordents are hazardous. Also there are problems likedifficulty in the collection of plants, lack of standardiza-tion, lack of availability of precise technical knowledgeof extracting and dyeing technique and species availability.Tyrian purple is obtained from the rare Mediterraneanmolluse Murex brandavis. In order to obtain 14 g of thedye about 1200 molluses are needed.

Mordant Dyes do not interact directly with the materials they are intended to colour. Natural dyes are substantive and require a mordant to fix to the fabric, and prevent the colour from either fading with exposure to light or washing out. These compounds bind the natural dyes to the fabrics. A mordant is an element which aids the chemical reaction that takes place between the dye and the fibre, so that the dye is ab-sorbed. Containers used for dying must be non-reactive (enamel, stainless steel). Brass, copper or iron pots will do their own mordanting. Not all dyes need mordants to help them adhere to fabric. If they need no mordants, such as lichens and walnut hulls, they are called substantive dyes. If they need a mordant, they are called adjective dyes. Common mordants are alum (usually used with cream of tartar, which helps evenness and brightens slightly); iron (or copper) (which saddens or darken colours, bringing out green shades); tin (usually used with cream of tartar, which blooms or brightens col-ours, especially reds, oranges and yellows), and blue vitriol (which saddens colours and brings out greens shades).

African Marigold Uses

The rich green foliage of African marigolds contrasts with its bright yellow or orange blooms. The bright yellow and gold globes of marigold flowers are unmistakable in the garden in summer and fall. Despite its name, the African marigold is native to Mexico and Central America. These marigolds have large double flowers and are a popular choice for flowers beds and garden containers. The African marigold has other uses beyond its attractiveness as an annual flower. Using it as a companion plant or extracting dye from the flowers take advantage of more of the natural properties of this plant.

1. Flower Gardens
o

The botanical name for the family of marigolds is Tagetes, with African marigolds known as Tagetes erecta. African marigolds are annual plants and can grow up to 3 feet in height. Their blooms are in bright shades of white, yellow and orange, and they flower from May to October. Marigolds grow successfully in flower beds and borders, usually at the back for height contrast and as a color contrast to flowers that are in hues of blues, lilacs and purples.

o o

Dyeing
Another use for marigolds is as dye plants. Soaking the marigold blooms in warm water extracts a dye which varies in color from bright yellow to khaki green. Adding alum mordant to this extract gives lighter shades and adding iron gives darker ones. Marigold extract will dye cotton, silk, linen and wool fabrics. The marigold dye may reflect the unpleasant scent of its blooms.