Sustainable Textile Coloration: Exploring Guava Leaf Maturity in Natural Dyeing of Cotton Fabric

The growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives in textile coloration has revived interest in natural dyes as sustainable substitutes for synthetic chemicals. This study explores guava leaves at different maturity stages as a renewable source of natural dye for cotton fabric. Cotton was dyed with extracts from premature, mature, and old leaves and evaluated for colorfastness, visual quality, phytochemical content, shrinkage, bursting strength, and fabric weight. Results showed that mature leaves contained the highest levels of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins, which enhanced dye uptake, shade depth, and durability of color. Fabrics dyed with mature leaves displayed superior wash, light, rubbing, and perspiration fastness compared to premature and old leaves. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed strong bonding of polyphenolic compounds to cellulose fibers, while visual assessment and colorimetric analysis highlighted uniform and vibrant shades. Mechanical testing showed minimal compromise in strength and dimensional stability, with acceptable changes in grams per square meter (GSM). These findings demonstrate that guava leaves, particularly at the mature stage, provide a sustainable and biodegradable dye source that improves color strength, shade uniformity, and functional performance of cotton fabric. The approach reduces reliance on synthetic dyes, supports cleaner production, and aligns with the principles of sustainable fashion and textile manufacturing.