Natural Dyes in the United States: An Exploration of Natural Dye Use Through the Lens of the Circuit of Style-Fashion-Dress

Abstract

In this article, we explore the world of natural dye use in the United States through the circuit of style-fashion-dress. To examine this phenomenon, we incorporated interviews, surveys, participant observation, fieldwork, and film production into our data collection. We found that fashion labels must deal with color inconsistencies from natural dyes due to variable growing conditions for plants, water quality, and manufacturing setups. This has led to scientific and agricultural innovations by companies to mitigate variabilities in processed natural dyestuff. We also found that production dyers have established ways to educate their clients about the realities of using natural colorants. Lastly, our participants communicated a belief that natural dyes are an environmentally sustainable alternative to synthetics; however, the major challenge is that natural dyes currently do not meet the demands of the fashion industry.