Eucalyptus is an incredible dye source with the ability to produce a wide range of robust colours. With more than 800 species in Australia, they are abundant throughout the country, growing rapidly and yielding plentiful leaves. Almost every part of the tree - from leaves to bark and seeds - can be used to create colour. Each species of Eucalyptus has a unique colour palette, which can further vary depending on soil conditions and seasons. Purples, greens, yellows, oranges, and shades of black and grey can all be attained. At Salvage, we love experimenting with Eucalyptus leaves and are forever chasing the next shade. 

Fustic is an efficient dye source that can produce powerful results with minimal dye. Fustic refers to the wood of a Chlorophora Tinctoria tree. At Salvge we love using Fustic to create soft blush and peachy colours. Fustic can create yellows, oranges and even greens. It is often used as the base colour to strengthen other dyes such as Indigo. Fustic is a dependable dye source due to it’s light and wash fastness.

The White Mulberry tree (Morus Alba) is a fascinating dye source. The leaves of the tree are rich in chlorophyll - the substance that creates the green colour of most plants. Through slow simmering of the leaves in water, chlorophyll transforms into a more stable form called chlorophyllin, which is unaffected by sunlight and heat. When used as dye, White Mulberry leaves reveal an array of natural looking shades of green - from soft jade to the deep forest green.

For numerous years, Cutch has been a dependable source of dye. It has a long history of use in Asia owing to its consistent results and abundance. Cutch is derived from the ground wood of the Acacia Catechu tree, and it produces orange, brown, and deep red hues, depending on the fabric's pre-treatment. Cutch is particularly useful in cellulose fibres such as linen and cotton.

Pomegranate rinds are a highly dependable and rich source of dye, with over a thousand years of use in the Middle East to dye carpets. Only the seeds are typically consumed, leaving the majority of the fruit to be discarded. Pomegranates, therefore, present a fantastic opportunity to up-cycle their rinds and create vibrant and beautiful dyes. The resulting colour is dependent on factors such as temperature and pre-treatment, but can range from shades of yellow and green to grey and khaki.

Although not a dye by themselves, Gullnut or Oak Galls possess potent bonding properties crucial in the dyeing process. These small, durable, seed-like balls are covered in bumps and are the result of oak trees defending themselves against parasitic wasps. Tannins released by the tree harden to form Gullnuts. While Gullnuts do not add any colour themselves, their high tannin content strengthens other dyes and can also aid in securing mordants and dyes to fibers. When dyeing cotton, Gullnuts are especially beneficial as it can be difficult to fix colour to cellulose-based materials.

Onion skins have a greater purpose beyond mere food waste. Red and brown onion skins possess impressive dyeing abilities, yielding rich hues. The high tannin content in these skins allows for easy bonding with many materials. Depending on the season and species of onion used, the resulting colours are a range of earthy reds, soft beige and deep browns.

Avocado is very popular and versatile natural dye known for it’s ability to create pleasing blush pink shades. Instead of discarding them, both the seeds or pits and skins can be utilised as sources of dye, creating a spectrum of colours ranging from pink and apricot to brown and grey. Temperature significantly impacts the colour outcome, with even slight variations altering a bright pink to brown. The hues also differ depending on the species, soil quality, and freshness of the ingredients used. Our experiments reveal that only fresh fruits yield the desired blush pink colour.