A&S 2026SS – Botanical Dyeing

Botanical dyeing is a dyeing process in which fabrics and finished products are dyed using natural dyes extracted from flowers, leaves, stems, bark, and other botanical materials through unique extraction techniques. No mordants are used; instead, a small amount of synthetic dye is added to improve color fastness. The resulting colors retain the softness and depth unique to natural plant dyes.

For this season, natural dyes derived from mulberry leaves, grape leaves, meadowsweet, and Assam tea have been used to dye lightweight fabrics such as cotton ramie and cotton lawn. We invite you to discover the rich colors created by these plants firsthand in store.

Using mulberry leaves grown in Fukushima Prefecture, chlorophyll is extracted under neutral conditions, producing a soft green. Mulberry has long been closely connected to people’s everyday lives. Its leaves are widely known as feed for silkworms, while its fruit, bark, and wood have all been utilized without waste.

Using pruned leaves from wine grapes grown in Yamanashi Prefecture, pigments contained in the leaves are extracted under alkaline conditions, resulting in a subdued gray beige. Grapes have been cultivated and enjoyed since ancient times, and both their leaves and fruit contain abundant polyphenols. This dyeing process makes use of leaves pruned during wine production.

Using meadowsweet grown in Poland for herbal tea, pigments are extracted under alkaline conditions to create a deep purple with reddish undertones. This perennial member of the rose family grows naturally in meadows and is known as “Meadowsweet” because of its sweet fragrance. In Europe, it has long been appreciated as a plant valued for its aroma.

Using black tea leaves grown in the Assam region of India, pigments are extracted under alkaline conditions, creating a deep purple with bluish undertones. Assam tea is known for its robust flavor and high tannin content. The dye extracted from large tea leaves grown in the region’s hot, humid climate produces colors with remarkable depth.