The Digital Dye Databank is a continuous cataloging project that documents dyes extracted from various natural and man-made materials found throughout the world. The process of natural dyeing is simple; a material such as a plant, flower, leaf, bark, or any material really is cooked in boiling water for up to three hours to make what's known as a dye bath. Then, a natural fiber such as cotton or wool is placed into the dye bath and extracts a pigment from the bath that permanently adheres to the fiber. Different chemicals known as mordants can alter the color of the dye and allow the dye to better adhere to the fabric. Mordants can range from household items such as vinegar, salt, or ammonia to more complex chemicals from Aluminum, Iron, and Copper and are often applied to the chosen fabric before being placed into the dye bath. 

 

      Even though the practice of natural dyeing has existed for centuries throughout different parts of the world, its history is poorly recorded and this project is an attempt to digitally document the results from a variety of plants and materials. Through, rather than focus on the plants that produce the most brilliant colors, this project documents the most common plants and materials that one might walk past everyday. These are colors from the weeds, non-native species, and waste that are often overlooked.