P
rogress in developing new dyes also
grew quickly. Mauve itself ended up
obsolete within less than two decades,
with the introduction of new purple dyes.
In its entry for “dye,” Webster’s Third
International Dictionary (1981) has a
several-page chart listing 795 synthetic
dyes in U.S. production and a total of nine
natural ones.
The art and craft of natural dyeing did not
altogether die out, however. In scattered
pockets of the world small, independent
groups of artisans continue to carry on
regional traditions. Japan’s government
proactively protects its artistic heritage by
offering stipends to citizens it identifies
as Living National Treasures. The 1981
National Geographic video production
The Living Treasures of Japan featured
Ayano Chiba (1889-1980), a petite, gnome-
like woman who lived on her family farm
growing hemp, weaving, and dyeing it with
home grown indigo, all by hand.
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ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE
The familiar Rit ® dyes are the ones nearly everyone knows from their use to dye fabrics in the
washing machine. They are synthetic dyes enhanced with chemical agents to make them work with
multiple kinds of fabrics, whereas natural dyes typically need individualized treatment for mordant,
temperature, and pH.