Marigold Petals (Tagetes Erecta) & Onion Peels (Allium Cepa) Natural Dyeing on Cotton Fabric by using Cowdung (Bovine Faeces or Manure) Mordant

The present research study deals with the Natural Dyeing on cotton. Natural dyes were used for colouring of textiles from ancient times till the nineteen Century. The usage of natural dyes decreased with the invention of synthetic dyes in 1856 by Perkin. So, some of the synthetic dyes are harmful, synthetic dyes have adverse effects on nature and human body. Use of the natural dyes is restricted in view of some of their disadvantages with less availability, poor colour yield, reproducibility of shade, inadequate fixation and fastness. The main concern is to protect the environment from any damage and to reduce damages that are prevalent in the existing practices. It is important to use substances that do not harm the environment. Environmentally awakened consumers prefer textiles coloured with natural dyes and today there is a niche market for such naturally dyed textiles. This study was undertaken to explore possibilities of arriving of naturally dyed cotton fabric as sustainable yields with natural source like Marigold flower and Onion Peels and natural mordant as Cow dung. The natural dye was extracted at 30%, 40% and 50% shade used to dye cotton fabric using natural mordant. The mordant considered in this research is cow dung at 5% concentration. Cotton fabric were dyed with three different mordanting such as pre - mordanting, simultaneous - mordanting, post - mordanting with exhaust method. A wide range of colours were obtained using the various dyes and also gave light yellow, beige, dark yellow, golden yellow, reddish colours are obtained. The dyed fabric samples were then tested for the different fastness properties such as wash, rub, perspiration and light fastness. The results that indicated are run fastness for both dry and wet test showed excellent to good result and the perspiration fastness for both acid and alkaline showed good result. But the colour fastness to washing gave good to poor result when the study was carried out. So it is concluded that cow dung mordant showed good result on cotton fabric and it can used for any dyes. Naturally dyed and herbal treated fabrics have many benefits in addition to their concerns towards environment sustainability being rather nontoxic and eco - friendly in comparison to synthetic dyes and chemicals.