Care instructions for naturally dyed textiles

Natural dyes are alive. They come from plants, flowers, and minerals — and behave differently from synthetic pigments. With proper care, your pieces will remain beautiful, the colors vibrant, and the fibers intact.

For your Atelier piece

All blanks in the Cosmaki Atelier are pre-mordanted by us — prepared with metal salts to ensure optimal adhesion and longevity of the natural dyes. You therefore work with a ready-to-dye piece from the start, without having to worry about preparation.

After dyeing, we take care of washing out, fixing, and ironing. Nevertheless, some color may still come off during the first wash at home — this is normal for natural dyes and not a quality defect. Wash it separately, cold, and on a gentle cycle or by hand the first time.

After that, the general care instructions below apply.

Washing

Wash naturally dyed textiles at 30°C — this protects the colors and is completely sufficient for thorough cleaning. Use mild, environmentally friendly detergents without bleach or fabric softener. Both attack the fibers and cause natural colors to fade faster.

Choose a low spin speed, prefer full wash loads — this saves water and protects the material.

Drying

Ideally, air dry in the shade. Direct sunlight bleaches natural colors — especially in the first few weeks after dyeing. If you use a dryer, only do so at a low temperature. Gently shape the piece while still slightly damp before it dries completely.

General advice

Ventilation extends the time between washes — thus protecting color, fibers, and the environment. The less often it is washed, the longer the color intensity will be preserved.

Avoid aggressive cleaning agents, bleach-based stain removers, and hot water. Natural dyes are sensitive to strong chemicals.

Why naturally dyed textiles?

Naturally dyed textiles are free from synthetic pigments — gentler on the skin, kinder to the environment. The colors are created from plants, flowers, barks, and minerals that have been used for dyeing for centuries. Each piece carries this history within it.