Published Paper Details:

Natural dyes made from plants are becoming more and more well-liked because they are sustainable and kind to the environment. In order to dye fabrics using a natural mordant made from banana peels, this study looks into the process of extracting dye from Alkanna tinctoria, also known as alkanet root, an old source of red and purple dyes. The goal of the study is to assess the dyed fabric's colour fastness by putting it through a variety of tests on a hobo bag, such as rubbing, washing, and exposure to sunshine. The banana peel mordant was chosen for its environmentally beneficial qualities, providing a substitute for synthetic mordants, while the alkanet bark was picked for its potential for rich colour. Tannins found in banana peel improve the dye's durability and absorption on textiles, resulting in a vivid yet long-lasting hue. After soaking the alkanet bark in water, the extracted dye was applied to fabric that had already been treated with a banana peel mordant. Several tests of fastness were performed to evaluate the performance of the coloured fabric is sunlight fastness (exposing the cloth to prolonged UV radiation), washing fastness (using various detergents and wash cycles), and rubbing fastness (both dry and wet). The fabric mordanted with banana peel and dyed with alkanet bark demonstrated acceptable to good colour fastness in every test, according to the results. There may be a need for more dyeing process optimization since the dye displayed a moderate resilience to rubbing and sun exposure, with a small fading seen after prolonged washing cycles. This work offers important insights into the feasibility of employing alkanet bark for dyeing using banana peel as a mordant, highlighting the possibilities of integrating natural plant-based dyes and mordants for sustainable textile applications. The encouraging outcomes imply that these natural dyeing methods might be expanded for usage in environmentally aware fashion, particularly in artisanal and handcrafted goods like hobo bags. To achieve industry standards for colour fastness, more research into enhancing the dyed fabrics' durability and vibrancy is advised.