historical dyeing practices

Historically, dyeing textiles involved extracting colors from natural sources like plants, minerals, and insects. Ancient cultures used techniques such as boiling plant materials—like indigo for blue or madder root for red—to produce dyes. These dyes were often applied through immersion or stamping, and the process required skill to achieve consistent hues. Some dyes, like Tyrian purple from sea snails, were rare and valuable. The development of mordants—substances that fix dyes—improved colorfastness. These practices reflected cultural symbolism, trade routes, and technological advancements, shaping the rich history of textile coloration.