Mud-dyed Fabric

Mud dyeing is a fascinating process. The mud-dyed fabric I used for the coat featured in the latest magazine is from Cloth House. Their fabric is a cotton canvas dyed using mud.

The base fabric is initially soaked in a natural mordant made from plant seeds which helps fix the dye to the fabric and prevent fading. The mud is then applied by hand to one side of the fabric and the fabric is laid out to dry in the sun.

At first the mud is grey but the fabric is then stored inside and over time the colour develops into this warm brown and rust colour. It takes 6 months in storage to fix the dye and to achieve this deep colour, after which the fabric is washed and sun dried once again.

The darker blackened side of the fabric is the correct side however I loved the rich nutmeg brown of the reverse and chose this as the right side. Read more about the coat here.

Mud cloth can be hand washed in cold water and mild detergent without much colour loss.