Dyes

The Craft

Colour from the earth

Our colours come from root, leaf and flower, not a chemical vat. This is what gives a Tarsh garment its living, layered depth, and why it ages so gracefully.

From root, leaf and flower

Each pigment is prepared by hand in small batches:

  • Turmeric · yellow
  • Indigo · blue
  • Soot · black
  • Sandalwood · red-brown
  • Bark & seeds · earth tones
  • Crushed leaves · green

Cured by the sun

Once painted, every piece is laid flat in direct sunlight. The UV bonds the natural pigments into the fibres so the colours stay wash-fast and vivid for years, with no synthetic fixatives. It is the same sun that has set these paintings for centuries.

Why it matters

Natural dyes are gentler on your skin, on the artisan's hands and on the rivers of Bihar. A little extra care in washing (cold water, shade drying) keeps them beautiful far longer than any synthetic print.