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Natural Dye of the Week: Lac

At Avani, we often talk about how our textiles are “naturally dyed.” But where do these dyes come from, and how are they able to produce such rich, vibrant colors? This month on the blog, we’re going to dive deeper into each of Avani’s natural dyes, looking at where these vivid colors come from, how they’re made, and the amazing shades they produce. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re starting off our series with Lac, one of our favorite dyes for stunning shades of red, pink, and purple.

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Life in Kumaon: The Shauka community

The Shaukas are one of the communities with which Avani works closely.  Their long-standing traditions of weaving and natural dyeing have inspired our work. Read on to know more about their lifestyle, customs and weaving traditions.

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The Case for Natural Dyes

“Sometimes it is red,” said Tamanna Afrous, the school’s English teacher. “Or gray. Sometimes it is blue. It depends on the colors they are using in the factories.”- A teacher in Sarvar, Bangladesh, describing the effects of synthetic dyes on the local river[1] For many, the impact of synthetic dyes on the environment is a distant issue, falling far behind daily concerns of air pollution or energy efficiency. But Sarvar, a town in Bangladesh that is home to numerous textile factories, is all too familiar with the dangers of synthetic dyes. Here, students in a school near a textile factory often faint or retch from the odors of the chemical dyes, while the river is polluted with the varying colors...

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Six Ways Avani’s Textiles are Eco-Friendly

The Top 6 Ways Avani's Products are Sustainable In the fashion world, “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” have been hot topics. Almost every brand, it seems, from local artisanal producers to fast fashion retailers, is eager to tout their sustainable credentials. But what does sustainability really mean in practice?  

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