The Art of Cotton Dyeing in Iran: A Rainbow of Nature on Fabric
Cotton dyeing is another rich traditional art of Iran that has flourished throughout history. Cotton, due to its natural texture and high absorption capacity, has been a suitable medium for creating colorful and lasting works of art.
History of Cotton Dyeing in Iran
Cotton dyeing in Iran has roots in ancient civilizations. Ancient Iranians extracted various natural dyes from plants, insects, and minerals and used them to dye cotton fabrics. In the Islamic period, this art reached its peak and was used in the production of various fabrics for household, clothing, and decorative purposes.
Raw Materials and Dyeing Process
- Cotton: Cotton, due to its natural texture and high absorption capacity, is the best option for dyeing.
- Natural dyes: Like silk dyeing, natural dyes such as indigo, madder, turmeric, walnut hull, and more were used in cotton dyeing.
- Mordant: To fix the color on cotton fibers, mordants such as alum, iron sulfate, etc. were used.
- Dye bath: Large copper or cast iron pots were used for cotton dyeing.
The dyeing process generally consists of the following steps:
- Preparing cotton: Raw cotton is washed and prepared for dyeing.
- Preparing the dye: Natural materials are boiled and the desired color is extracted.
- Mordancing: Cotton is placed in a mordant solution to prepare it for color absorption.
- Dyeing: Cotton is placed in a dye bath and boiled for a specified time.
- Washing: The dyed cotton is washed and dried.
- Color fixing: To fix the color, the cotton is steamed.
Types of Cotton Dyeing Patterns
Cotton dyeing patterns are very diverse and range from simple geometric patterns to complex floral designs and natural images. Some methods of creating designs on cotton include:
- Bundling: Like silk dyeing, using thread or fabric, parts of the cotton are tied so that the dye does not reach those parts during dyeing.
- Stencil: Using a stencil, the desired design is created on the cotton and then the empty parts are dyed.
- Tie-dyeing: By tying the cotton, beautiful designs are created.