The process of natural dyeing in the country is deeply ingrained in our culture. It is an age-old tradition that can be traced back to the early indigenous groups who established their unique identity through the colors derived and inspired by the abundant natural resources surrounding them. In the recent years, with the advent of modernization and with mass-produced synthetic dyes entering the picture, the process of natural dyeing have fallen into the wayside with a few remaining indigenous groups choosing to continue it in order to uphold their tradition.

Today, with the globally growing demand for green technologies and products, the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (PTRI-DOST) revives and gears-up natural dyeing in the country into an established S&T program for livelihood generation in the countryside. 

Realizing the lack of awareness and application for locally-available natural dye and to make the same easily available to address the growing demand, the PTRI developed natural dye kits are suited for hobbyists, students, and researchers inclined to explore possibilities from natural textile colorants. The Kit comes complete with all the necessary materials to carry-out the natural dyeing process in the comfort of their own homes or work places without any special equipment required. For designers and small-scale entrepreneurs, 200 grams/packs are also made available. 

The development of these natural dye kits is part of PTRI’s advocacy of facing age-old traditions with updated, competitive technology towards sustainable livelihood opportunities for many of us.  Thru this initiative, PTRI aims to employ push and pull market forces to generate and then sustain continuous local supply of naturally-dyed products. 

The PTRI NatDye powders  provide ease of handling as against employing the crude (to mean simple and rudimentary) extraction process which is more laborious and time-consuming. These powders provide ease of application as well, with better accuracy in color reproduction and reproducibility. These, and their versatility, lending them applicable for dyeing, printing or painting, provides good reason for making them available for wider-spread use.

For these past years, PTRI has been the Country’s leader on innovations and developments in the standardization and commercialization of technologies on natural dyes with 100 natural plant dye sources already identified and technologies on 100 crude extracts and 30 natural dye powders, and eight natural dyes for silkscreen printing already established. (S&T MediaService, Joy Camille A. Baldo)