Cutch Extract

Cutch is the classic natural brown dye. Produced from the wood of a species of acacia, acacia catechu, it forms as a syrupy brown substance when the wood chips are submersed in water. This brown syrup can be dried out to yield pure cutch. Cutch gives tones ranging from warm cinnamons to rich chocolate browns depending on the fiber type and mordanting. Cutch is also extremely tannic, which means it can bond to fiber without a mordant, although the resulting color will be more pale. Our Cutch Extract is produced by a biotechnology laboratory in India, and it is extremely strong. Use at 5% weight-of-fabric (WOF) for medium shades of brown on well-mordanted fiber, or 10% or dark shades. Add a pinch of iron when the fabric is mostly finished dyeing to shift the hue toward chocolate. Certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for use on fibers that will be labeled “organic.”

Before using, please read our Guide to Dyeing with Cutch Extract for color recipes, background, and safety information.

Product of India.