Commercial Application of Sal bark for Dyeing of Silk: Sustainable Resource Use and Employment Generation for Women

In recent years there has been an increased awareness of the correlation between textile production and related environmental and health issues. An understandable desire to refrain from usage of harmful substances is being promoted by the European local and government authorities. Consumers are also increasingly conscious about the clothes they wear and the methods with which they are produced. This Study focused on the dyeing procedure for dyeing of silk fabric with natural dye extracted from Sal (Shorea robusta) bark. Various dyeing conditions including dye concentration, dye extraction time, extraction medium, dyeing time were optimized. Different mordants were applied for obtaining different shades on silk. Colourfastness of the samples towards sunlight, rubbing, washing and perspiration were assessed.