chemical versus natural dyes

the dyes I use are stored in this cupboard

cupboard with dyes in my studio

Ever since I started to dye my Pashmina shawls I used chemical dyes.

This was my conscious decision. With chemical dyes I can dye any shade of the rainbow. You can compare this to an painter who mixes his colours.

I use several types of yellow, blue, red that serve to mix any desired shade. Of course black is also in my cupboard. However black I only takes for shades of grey, taupe and black. For all the other colours I use primary colours.

My chemical dyes have been tested for rub, light, wet fastness. No AZO dyes are in my cupboard.

I have no experience with the world of natural dyes. It is in a different world.