Wisdom Orange Natural Dye – Raw Plant Powder

Wisdom Orange is supplied as a raw plant powder for natural dyeing, sourced from the vibrant blossoms of the Butea monosperma tree, also known as Flame-of-the-Forest or Palash tree, which is native to India and Southeast Asia. This tree is also an important host of the Lac bug, another source of natural dye. Known for its bright and warm orange tones, this botanical dye is traditionally used in the Hindu festival of Holi. Key Features • Raw plant powder for natural dyeing • Produces yellow, apricot, and warm terracotta tones • Suitable for protein and cellulose fibres How to Use Preparing the Dye Bath Use approximately 30–100% Weight of Fibre (WOF) of Wisdom Orange powder depending on the depth of colour desired. Lower percentages give soft apricot shades, while higher percentages yield more vivid orange tones in an alkaline dye bath. Soak the powder in water before heating to release the colour gently. Simmer carefully—avoid boiling vigorously—and strain the dye bath if a clearer result is preferred. Mordanting For protein fibres (silk, wool): pre-mordant with alum at approximately 10–15% WOF. Ensure fibres are clean and fully wetted. For cellulose fibres (cotton, linen): use an appropriate mordant process such as alum combined with tannin to achieve good colour uptake and durability. Dyeing Add well-wetted, mordanted fibre to the dye bath. Heat gradually and maintain a gentle simmer. Allow the fibre to remain in the bath until the desired shade is reached. Leaving fibres to cool in the dye bath often deepens and softens the final colour. For oranges, add Soda Ash to the dyebath to raise the pH. Important Notes As a natural dye, Wisdom Orange produces subtle variations depending on harvest, fibre type, and water quality. Sampling and note-taking are recommended for repeatable results.