Gum Arabic Extract

Shepherd Textiles Gum Arabic Extract is made from the bark of the Egyptian acacia, acacia nilotica. The tree is more commonly known as the Gum Arabic tree because of the sticky resin the tree exudes. Gum Arabic is widely used as a food additive and stabilizer, as well as a binder for paints and even as incense. The bark of the Gum Arabic tree is also rich in natural tannins, and it has been used for thousands of years for tanning leather. When used as a fabric dye, it gives pleasant, light-fast tans and chestnut browns. Because it is so rich in tannins it is substantive to all natural fibers, and can be used without a mordant for less saturated shades. Gum Arabic can produce softer, more neutral browns than the related species cutch (acacia catechu), which makes it useful for tanning cotton before mordanting it and dyeing it with other colors. Use at 5% weight-of-fabric (WOF) for sandy tans; add a little iron near the end of dyeing to shift the color to chocolate. Use at 2%-3% weight-of-fabric to tan cotton before mordanting. Our Gum Arabic Extract is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and is appropriate for use on fibers that will be labeled “organic.”

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

Product of India.