KERSEN LEAF EXTRACT (Muntingia Calabura L.) FOR YARN DYEING APPLICATIONS IN LOMBOK-INDONESIAN WEAVING ARTISANS

This study aims to analyze the process of making natural dye extracts from Kersen leaves (Muntingia calabura L.) and the results of dyeing weaving yarn in weaving artisans in Lombok, Indonesia. This natural dye is expected to be an environmentally friendly alternative dye that uniquely enriches local cultural heritage. The cloth that has been dyed with kersen leaf extract is then fixed with three types of fixators, namely: alum solution (Al₂(SO₄)₃K₂SO₄24H₂O), lime solution (Ca(OH)₂), and ferrous sulfate solution (FeSO₄·7H₂O). The results of the study showed: 1) The technique of making natural dye extracts from kersen leaves carried out by the researcher through the extraction technique of materials with a composition of 200 grams of kersen leaves: 1,000 ml of water into 500 mL of extract solution while what the weavers did was 15 kg of kersen leaves: 30 litres of water into 15 litres of material solution that is ready to be used to dye woven yarn; 2) The use of fixators in addition to directing colors also locks the color on the dyed yarn so that it does not fade easily; the alum solution fixator produces brighter colors; the lime solution fixator produces colors that tend to brown; and the ferrous sulfate ban produces a darker color towards black. This finding recommends the use of kersen leaf extract as an alternative solution for environmentally friendly natural dyes to be used in yarn dyeing in the weaving industry.