At Aranya they believe that natural dyes are a gift of nature. We believe that the Aranya Natural Dye Project is a marvel of the human spirit.
Behind the success of Aranya are a group of physically challenged young adults from the families of tea plantation workers. These young people are educated and rehabilitated at a vocational training centre managed by Tata Tea Ltd. The young wards have shown exemplary determination in their endeavor to achieve economic self-sufficiency through projects like Aranya.
Aranya produces a range of textiles dyed in diverse colours. Patterning techniques include a form of pole wrap shibori (where bottles are used) wax resist blockprinting, and stitch resist. One of the plentiful sources of natural dye material is the tea waste from processing. Tea is high in tannin and a wonderful source of browns and yellows. In addition to trade, Maiwa brings natural dye specialists from other parts of the country to share knowledge and help troubleshoot dye issues.
