About our Dyes +

KORA
Our unexpected evangelist. “Just” the true natural, soft, creamy colour of cotton lint - so easily lost by weaving and treatment - and one we work hard to preserve at Malkha.

ALIZARIN RED
The only non-vegetable dye used by Malkha, Alizarin Red is a non-toxic by-product of coal tar. It creates a truly lovely and smooth scarlet when dyed on well-prepared, properly mordanted yarn.

CROSS COLOUR
Something particularly intriguing happens when the warp and weft of the weave are different colours. Colloquially called "dhoop chaon" [sunshine shade] because the fabric that results from this cross colour warp and weft looks differently hued in different light.

About Fabric Quality and Care+

What it feels like
When you first touch our fabric, it will feel rough but rub it against your skin, or better yet, wear it, and it will surprise you with its graceful fall and softness. The colors that the Natural Dyes impart to the Malkha fabric are deep and vibrant - imbued with the richness of the earth. They vary from season to season, as fruits and vegetables do, and so each piece is subtly unique, changing its tone with the position of the sun and the quality of the water in the nearby river.

How it ages
Malkha fabric ages much like we do, the wear and tear matches the way you use and treat it. If you want it to soften and fade and become well worn and tell your story, like wrinkles do, treat it as you will and watch the colors fade beautifully with time. If you want it to always be vibrant, like the day it was made, we suggest you skip dry cleaning, laundry detergent and if you are able, even a washing machine. Use a non-detergent soap if you must or just give it a quick hearty rinse in cold water.