August 26, 2025

Learning the Art of Botanical Dyeing in Bali

Earlier this year, our General Manager, Lynda, had the chance to spend three incredible days at Threads of Life, a dye studio in Bali dedicated to preserving and sharing centuries-old natural dyeing traditions. She went along with Dhivya and Satesh from our factory team in India because we wanted to get our hands into the process; to truly understand the different sustainable dyeing practices available to us, their history, and how they could be adapted responsibly for scale in modern garment-making.

We came away with stained hands, full bellies, and heads overflowing with knowledge. Even more, we came away inspired and determined to rethink the way colour shows up in our clothing.

Why Botanical Dyes?

Conventional dyeing is one of the most toxic parts of the textile industry. The chemicals used don’t just stay in the dye house, they flow into waterways, affect factory workers’ health, and can even remain in the fabric we wear against our skin every day. That means we’re unknowingly absorbing residues of heavy metals, petrochemicals, and synthetic mordants.

Even in the world of so-called “organic clothing,” the conversation about dyes often gets overlooked. That’s why we want to continue to dig deeper; botanical dyes offer a safer, more sustainable path for workers, wearers, and the planet.

Learning from Threads of Life

Threads of Life has gathered the collective wisdom of communities across Bali and Indonesia who have been working with natural dyes for hundreds of years. Their mission is to keep these traditions alive while also making them relevant for today’s world.

For three days, we immersed ourselves in their dye studio, learning about:

Indigo dyeing: We explored three different types of indigo plants. We learned how to coax the indoxyl molecule out of the leaves, ferment it with a glucose source, and then use reduction and oxidation techniques to achieve the full spectrum of blues.
Botanical colour sources: We experimented with local plants—leaves, roots, bark, and even mud—each one unlocking a unique palette. A mud and tannin combination, for example, produces a deep charcoal-black.
Batik and tie dye: We had a chance to dabble in these resist-dyeing techniques, which add artistry and texture to fabric.
Safe mordants: We loved that nothing used in the process was harsher than naturally derived lye/soda ash, lime, mineral alum, or vinegar.

An Unexpected dea Connection

One of the highlights? Midway through the course, we discovered that one of our very own dea customers was also attending the workshop! It felt like such a serendipitous moment, reinforcing how connected and curious our community is about clothing that’s kind to both skin and planet.

The Generosity of Balinese Hospitality

The people at Threads of Life were so generous with their knowledge and time. In between stirring dye pots, we were treated to delicious Indonesian lunches, freshly made snacks, and (my our obsession) strong, aromatic Balinese coffee. It wasn’t just a workshop; it was a cultural immersion.

Visiting CV Tarum Bali

After Threads of Life, we visited CV Tarum Bali, a natural dye house in Gianyar, to see how these techniques could scale for larger production. Here, we saw local indigenous plants like mango leaves and the umbrella tree transformed into a beautiful palette of earthy tones and soft colours on fabric.

It was inspiring to see natural dyeing happening at scale without compromising on sustainability or tradition.

Balancing Sustainability and Scale

One of the most important conversations we had during our time in Bali was about scale and sustainability. Just because a dye source is “natural” doesn’t automatically make it sustainable.

For example:

Mangrove bark (Ceriops Tagal) can produce a beautiful reddish-brown colour, but harvesting it would damage fragile mangrove forests. So it’s off the table.
Indigo, mango, and umbrella tree are more promising because they can be cultivated responsibly, making them better candidates for sustainable scaling.

This kind of thinking, not just whether something works, but whether it can work responsibly at scale, is at the heart of what we’re exploring with our factory partners in India. Dhivya and Satesh left Bali buzzing with ideas and are already investigating how some of these plants might be grown or sourced near our production facilities.

Key Takeaways from Bali

Here’s what stood out most from our time in the dye studios:

Botanical dyes are viable: They offer rich, beautiful colour without toxic chemicals.
Knowledge is collective: These methods have been honed over hundreds of years by communities who deeply understand their land and ecosystems.
Scale matters: Not every plant or process can be scaled responsibly, but some definitely can.
Holistic sustainability: Every step of making a garment—from fibre to colour—must be considered if we’re truly aiming for ethical, sustainable fashion.

Looking Ahead

Our time in Bali was a learning adventure, but it was also just the beginning. We’re now working with our Indian manufacturing partners to trial different botanical dyeing methods, seeing what’s feasible both environmentally and economically.

Most of all, we’re excited to share the journey with you—because the choices we make about colour are not just aesthetic. They affect ecosystems, factory workers, and even the health of the people who wear our clothes.

As we move forward, we’ll continue to ask the hard questions:

Can this dye source be grown sustainably?
How does it impact local ecosystems?
What happens to the water after dyeing?
How safe is the process for workers and wearers alike?

Because to us, sustainability is never just about the final product - it’s about every single step it takes to get there.

Final Thoughts

Spending those four days in Bali reminded us that the future of fashion is deeply rooted in the past. By learning from traditional practices, honouring the people who developed them, and adapting them thoughtfully for today, we can create clothes that are beautiful, ethical, and sustainable from the fibre all the way through to the colour on the fabric.

And honestly? Getting to dunk fabric into vats of indigo, eat delicious Balinese food, drink endless cups of coffee, and connect with like-minded people along the way made the whole journey an unforgettable joy.