Alum mordant

Mordant for Natural Dying

Many natural dyes require the use of a mordant to achieve the most durable and long-lasting colours. Mordanting prepares the fibres to bond with natural dyes and is typically a separate immersion bath for the fibres. The technique is simple: measure the mordant, dissolve it in water, and add it to a dye pot or bucket or tub filled with water. Add the fibres for a period of time, then transfer them to a dye bath. Although many substances can be used for mordanting, the most sustainable mordants are considered to be aluminium potassium sulphate for protein (wool) and aluminium acetate for cellulose (cotton, linen, bamboo, etc.) fibres, as well as for protein/cellulose blends, like wool/hemp, silk/bamboo and silk/cotton.

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