In green burials, the emphasis is on environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. Undyed natural fibers are prefered since many **conventional fabric dyes contain chemicals and synthetic compounds that can be harmful to the environment**. These chemicals may leach into the soil during decomposition, potentially contaminating the surrounding ecosystem.
But **burial clothing shouldn't be white only** . Natural dyes, derived from plant-based sources, are more eco-friendly compared to synthetic dyes, giving more colour options to burial garments.
Weighing fibers before dyeing is a fundamental step to ensure precision and consistency in the dyeing process. Knowing the weight of your fibers gives you an idea of how much mordants and dyes you need to use in the following steps.
Scouring is a crucial preparatory step in the dyeing process of fabrics. It cleans the fibers and enhances their ability to absorb dye uniformly and effectively.
How to:
1. Put dye materials into a large pot of water.
2. Add soda 10% weight of the materials.
3. Simmer for approximately 1hr. Stir occationally. (The resulting water may look yellow brown.)
4. Allow fibers to cool down slowly and then rinse in hot water.
Cotton | Cellulose Fiber | High | High | Low | Low | < 40°C
Linen | Cellulose Fiber | High | High | Low | Low | < 40°C
Bamboo | Cellulose Fiber | High | High | Low | Low | < 40°C
Silk| Animal Fiber | High| High | High | Medium | < 30°C
South American Wool | Animal Fiber | High| High | High | Medium | < 30°C
**MORDANTING**
Mordanting is a process where a mordant, typically a metallic salt or compound, is applied to fibers before dyeing to help fix the dye molecules onto the fibers more effectively. Different mordants may give you different results in colours. Here I used alum as my mordant.
