Frequently Asked Questions

• Why choose organic cotton over conventional cotton?
• Why choose herbal dyed fabric over chemically dyed fabric?
• Why choose herbal and organic textile?
• What's wrong with synthetic clothing?
• What are mordants?
• Are the colors in nature's laboratory product all natural?
• What does natural bleached means?
• I am allergic to detergent; I am looking for detergent free products?
• How much can I expect your product to shrink?
• How can I see the herbal colors and what are the possible shade variation?
• How can I buy in bulk?
• Do you take custom order?
• Is the company certified by any recognized and standard body?
• Does company follow fair trade?
• How can I order sample swatches?
• How do we know that a garment is Herbal-dyed? What are the obvious differences beside the laboratory reports?
• How fast are the colors? How strong is the fabric of the herbal dyed article?
• How do I care for these special textiles?
• How do I wash & care the fabric?

The pesticides used on ‘conventional’ cotton increasingly create threat to mankind and environment. Conventionally-grown cotton occupies hardly 3% of the world's farmland, but uses more than 25% of the world's harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides. And these harmful chemicals get absorbed into the plant, air, soil, water and eventually, our bodies. Thus, it imbalances the ecological system.

But on the contrary, organic cotton is grown by using natural/organic fertilizers by enhanced natural farm management system like crop rotation method to improve the fertility of the soil. And second most important thing is that organic cotton is endorsed by third neutral independent body that ensures the buyer that what you are buying is organic and been grown as per the international standard. So by supporting the concept of organic cotton you not only support a man kind but also contribute a lot to the environment.

We do not realize when we wear a chemically dyed garment that it may have passed through more than 1000 chemicals ,where 1/3rd of chemicals are lethal which is not only effecting our body but also the environment by every aspect be it air, soil or water pollution. To answer the mounting questions of pollution, global warming, chemical sensitivity, allergies, the role of herbal dyeing and ECO dyeing comes into the picture and it not only answers these questions but also preserves the lost legacy of doing herbal dyeing.

Besides, its obvious advantages of being skin friendly, eco friendly it also contributes a lot to environment in terms of carrying properties of getting decomposed. And it reaches to the high extreme in its usability when we use the residues of herbal dyeing as manure. So whatever we take from nature we give it back without any distortion, pollution or contamination.

One need to keep this point in mind that dyeing is the stage in textile which consumes a high percentage of chemical and one need to eliminate these chemicals if want to combat against the mounting issues of health and environment we will have to eliminate harmful and lethal chemicals from the process.

Though there are many dyeing process available in the market which uses LOW IMPACT DYES with ECO DYEING procedures,they are syntethic dyeing approved by GOTS(golobal organic textile standard).NaturesLaboratory uses this dyeing as another obtions for customers.

When organic cotton combines with herbal dyeing then it becomes a complete solution for textile pollution. Because even if you use organic cotton but if you use chemical dyeing on that you lose the purpose of going organic allowing chemicals in the process. So, one has to go for organic textile and herbal dyeing in order to eliminate all the chemicals from the system.

Synthetic fabrics are manufactured from petroleum derivatives.

They are generally cheap due to low petroleum prices but actual cost is paid by us and by the environment in terms of health and pollution.

Polyester and acrylic made ups may give off toxic vapors, especially when new. They tend to emit static electricity and trap perspiration and also contain chemicals that can be harmful towards the health of the user.

Mordants are used in order to intensify or change the color and also they make the resulting shade faster to light and washing. Generally in conventional dyeing copper, chrome and other heavy metals are used as mordant which are harmful.

But we at NatureLaboratory use natural ingredients and mineral salts which, when added to the herbal dye bath either enhances, intensify, or change the color.

Yes, for natural dyeing all the ingredients used in the dyeing process right from raw material to processing to fixing the dyes are directly from plant origins roots, flowers, stems and bark and other natural ingredients. None of our processing stages contains any material from synthetic source. We use myraballum, , catechu, pomegranate rind, onion skin, madder wood, indigo, turmeric, sea salts, castor oil and many more which are known to have medicinal properties.We also can dye with ECO DYES by customers request.

For bringing whiteness and brightness in the fabric generally chlorine is used but we at Nature's Laboratory uses hydrogen peroxide which is GOTS approved and some other natural ingredients which are known to have anti-bacterial and antimicrobial properties to do the natural bleaching.

Anyone with chemical sensitivity & or allergies may use Natures Laboratory's products as we do not use any synthetic ingredients in natural dyeing. Some of our clients have experienced relief from the skin allergies after using Nature's Laboratory's textiles.

Our textiles are usually preshrunk 2-4% in Knits shrinkage allowance needs to be kept in mind as general textile practice.

Beet Maroon Leaf Green Madder Red Cutch Brown Sandalwood Red Bark Brown Ash Pink Earth Grey Indigo Blue Chebula Black Indigo Blue Light Pom Olive Pom Orange Harda Cream Tesu Orange Myra Yellow Kesu Cream

Kindly send your inquiry through the wholesale inquiry form; we will contact you as soon as we receive the query.

Yes we work on custom order, you may send an inquiry through the inquiry form we will contact you as soon as we receive the query.

We are a GOTS CERTIFIED (GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD) .

GOTS standard has a minimum of social compliances which we adhere to. Taking responsibility for how people and the environment are impacted by our activities is important and is essential if Nature's Laboratory is to be able to grow while maintaining profitability.

As certifications are an expensive procedure it is not feasible for us to procure all certifications. As a conscientious company we believe in fair practices of trade. This applies to not only people working for us but also to people who would like to work with us.

please contact us.and we will send you the samples. p>--- Back to Top ---

Q) How do we know that a garment is Herbal-dyed? What are the obvious differences beside the laboratory reports?

Herbal dyed garment would have the following characteristics: • It will become brighter after it is washed first time in any synthetic detergents because while dyeing no chemical detergents have been used. • The garment has a typical smell of the myraballams or other herbs mixed with it. • The shades are unlike chemical dyed. They have their own identity which cannot be duplicated even by chemical dyeing. • Above all, your body tells you, loud and clear once you wear it because it helps to increase transpiration and is also anti-allergic unlike chemical dyed textiles. • Unlike chemical colors natural color is a combination of different colors. • Some fabrics may get bleached where drops of lime is sprinkled as lime is the strongest natural bleaching agent. Indigo Blues & Pinks are resistant to lime.

Parameter GOTS Standards Natures' Laboratory Water 3-4 Washing 3-4 Dry 3-4 Wet 2-3 P.S.: * In case of Pigment/Vat/Natural dyes dry 3 and wet 2 may be accepted for Rubbing.

Test result are based on the our laboratory. We recommend Client to independently have the testing done according to their own requirements. Parameter indication:

1=Lowest

5=Highest

The strength of the fiber of herbal dyed articles is more than that in the chemical dyed article because no harsh chemical has been used while dyeing it; that is, it will stand more washing than any other dyed fabric in comparison.

Please go through our wash care Instructions.

Washing Instructions:

• Hand Wash or Mild machine wash separately in cold water
• Dark colors may bleed, should be washed separately
• Mild Detergents/Natural Detergents Only
• Do not scrub
• No bleaching
• Dry reverse in shade
• Iron on reverse Other important Points about the colors/Herbal-dyeing/Fabric care
• To store fresh Indigo blue-dyed article for long periods of time it should be kept covered and away from light since it is light sensitive. This problem subsided once used for 3-4 washes.
• Dry clean may be done on the fabrics or garments.
• Yellow Textile is not recommended for the exteriors such as curtains as they are poor to light fastness.
• All colors except blue, white and some pastel shade is highly sensitive to citric content or lime, thus care should be taken accordingly (lime is most strong natural source of ).
• It is recommended to wash the fabrics or textile before first use as some time unattached dyes may leave marks especially red, blue.
• Care should be taken or tested when two different colors are used on one product.
• It is recommended to test the sample before placing the orders and understand their characters minutely as they are a natural product unlike other chemical dyed textile articles available.
• Water marks may form if textiles are put partially in water/or water is spilled and then dried.
• Mild Liquid soap/or soap- powder diluted in liquid form is recommended for the washing purpose.
• Please ask for the color variation chart before placing final order to know about the color variations during dyeing.
• Color change after washing is natural and depends on the kind of detergent used while washing.
• Irregularities in the weave and Dyeing are not a defect but an integral part of handloom, Natural dyed fabrics, and part of their charm. Any issues with the merchandise received needs to be advised in writing to us within 15 days of receipt of goods.
• Wash instructions need to be followed as per the wash labels strictly.
• Variations of Shade from 15-20 % should be acceptable to the party as it is a natural and hand process which varies from Batch to batch production
• The variations in same shade is due to the difference in fabric quality, climatic changes, difference in water quality, inconsistency in the properties of the herbs which are the main ingredients of the dyeing process should be acceptable.
• No complaints will be entertained after the fabric is dispatched thus we request to buy our swatch set before placing a huge order.
• Knits are always dyed with Open width, thus the Jersey material will have rolled edges.
• 2% to 4% shrinkage should be acceptable and taken into account in woven fabric while 3% to 8% shrinkage should be taken into consideration in case of knits.