Eco printing of cotton fabric using colourants from natural plants / Wan Noor Izzatie Wan Yahaya

Natural colourants from plants such as red cabbage, hibiscus and bougainvillea were printed on 100 % cotton fabrics. The use of natural colourants in dyeing has been highlighted in many researches. However, the potential of using natural dyes in printing has not been mainly covered. In this study, red cabbage, hibiscus and bougainvillea were selected as the natural dyes sources. The natural colourants were arranged on cotton fabrics to create designs and later steamed to impart the designs on the fabric. Different steaming times were used and the fabrics then analysed and evaluated for the printing effects and colourfastness properties. The process was repeated using different steaming time and mordanted cotton fabric. It was found that the prints obtained on the cotton fabric were unclear, with no sharp outlines and smeared. The colour of prints obtained is quite deep for un-mordanted and mordanted fabric. Incubation time has no effect on the quality of the print and colourfastness properties. Similarity addition of mordant also did not have any effect on the prints obtained and colourfastness properties. The eco printed fabric has poor colourfastness to washing, crocking and perspiration for un-mordanted and mordanted fabrics.