Artisan preparing natural dye bath, mixing warm marmalade tones by hand in the sustainable dyeing process

DYEING & COLOUR

SUSTAINABLE
dyeing PRACTICES

The fashion industry is the second largest consumer of water in the world, and textile dyeing is one of its most polluting processes. The colour in our clothes comes at a cost ~ to rivers, to communities, to the earth itself. But it does not have to be this way. Sustainable dyeing is not a utopian ideal. It is a set of practices, choices, and technologies that are being adopted today.

THE COST OF colour

Water Pollution

The World Bank estimates that up to 20 percent of industrial water pollution worldwide comes from textile dyeing and treatment. The textile industry uses approximately 79 billion cubic metres of water annually ~ enough to fill 32 million Olympic swimming pools.

Toxic Effluent

Wastewater from conventional dyeing contains unfixed dyes, salts, alkalis and acids, surfactants, heavy metals including chromium, copper, and zinc, and formaldehyde ~ a known carcinogen used in some finishing processes.

Scale of Impact

Conventional dyeing of a single kilogram of fabric can consume up to 200 litres of water. For the approximately 100 billion garments produced globally each year, the cumulative water impact is almost incomprehensible.

Human Cost

Communities downstream from major dyeing centres have reported contaminated groundwater, crop damage, elevated rates of skin conditions and respiratory illness, and the disappearance of aquatic life. The environmental cost of cheap colour is borne disproportionately by the most marginalised.

20%

Of global industrial water pollution from textile dyeing

200L

Water to dye just 1kg of fabric conventionally

79B

Cubic metres of water used by the textile industry annually

Fabric soaking in a natural dye vat, absorbing rich colour during the sustainable dyeing process

Fabric absorbing colour in a carefully managed dye bath

WHAT SUSTAINABLE DYEING looks like

01

AZO-Free & Safer Chemical Choices

The first and most fundamental step in sustainable dyeing is choosing safer chemicals. This means eliminating dyes that contain restricted azo compounds capable of releasing carcinogenic aromatic amines; avoiding heavy metal-based dyes and mordants where safer alternatives exist; reducing or eliminating formaldehyde-based finishes; and selecting chemical auxiliaries that are biodegradable and low in aquatic toxicity. AZO-free dyes ~ the type used by Daughters of India ~ are a key component of this safer chemistry approach. Learn more about AZO-free dyes.

02

Water Recycling & Reduction

Reducing water consumption is one of the most impactful things a dyeing operation can do. Strategies include low-liquor-ratio dyeing with modern machines operating at ratios as low as 1:3 compared to traditional ratios of 1:20 or higher; counter-current washing reducing total water consumption by up to 50%; water recycling of up to 80% of process water; and rainwater harvesting to collect monsoon rainfall for production use.

03

Effluent Treatment

Treating wastewater before it is discharged is essential. Effective effluent treatment typically involves multiple stages: primary treatment to remove solids, secondary biological treatment, tertiary treatment for residual pollutants, and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) ~ the most advanced approach, increasingly mandated by Indian state pollution control boards in water-stressed regions.

04

Closed-Loop Systems

The ideal sustainable dyeing operation is a closed loop ~ one in which water, chemicals, and energy are recycled continuously. Elements increasingly being adopted include recovery and reuse of salt from dye baths, alkali recovery, heat recovery from hot effluent, and collection and safe disposal or energy recovery from dye sludge.

05

Natural Dye Revival

The revival of natural dyes across India represents another dimension of sustainable dyeing ~ one rooted in tradition rather than technology. Natural dyes are inherently biodegradable, produced from renewable plant and mineral sources, and can be applied using low-energy processes. Organisations leading the revival include the Dyers' Association of Bagru, Kala Raksha, The Living Blue project, Aavaran, and The National Institute of Design.

“The colour in our clothes does not have to come at the cost of rivers, health, or livelihoods. Sustainable dyeing is possible.”

Daughters of India

GOVERNMENT & industry initiatives

India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) set and enforce effluent standards for textile manufacturing. In water-stressed states like Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, the requirements have become increasingly stringent. The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, for example, has mandated Zero Liquid Discharge systems for textile dyeing units in several districts, requiring that no liquid waste be discharged into the environment.

The effectiveness of these regulations varies significantly by state and by enforcement capacity. Large, export-oriented facilities generally comply with environmental standards. Smaller, domestic-market-focused operations often operate with less oversight. Closing this compliance gap is one of the most important challenges facing the Indian textile industry.

International standards and certification schemes are increasingly driving sustainable practices: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 tests finished textiles for harmful substances. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) covers the entire textile supply chain. ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) publishes a Manufacturing Restricted Substances List and wastewater guidelines. bluesign is a comprehensive system covering chemical management, resource efficiency, and consumer safety.

Fabric submerged in an indigo dye vat, absorbing deep blue colour during the hand-dyeing process

AZO-free dyeing process at a Daughters of India artisan workshop

WHAT DAUGHTERS OF INDIA does

Eco-Friendly AZO-Free Dyes

All Daughters of India garments are dyed with AZO-free dyes that comply with international safety standards. No restricted azo compounds. No heavy metal-based dyes.

Water Recycling

Water from our screen-printing processes is collected and directed to industrial effluent treatment facilities rather than being discharged untreated.

Responsible Sourcing

We work with dye suppliers who provide documentation of compliance with AZO-free and restricted substance standards.

Artisan Scale

Our handmade production model inherently uses less water, energy, and chemicals per garment than industrial-scale dyeing, because hand processes are slower, more controlled, and generate less waste.

WHAT YOU can do

We do not claim to be perfect. Sustainable dyeing is a continuum, not a destination, and there is always more that can be done. We are committed to improving our practices as better technologies and approaches become available, and to being transparent about both what we do and what we have yet to do.

As a consumer, your choices influence the practices of the brands you support. Here are some ways you can contribute to more sustainable dyeing:

Ask questions: Ask brands what type of dyes they use, whether they are AZO-free, and how they manage their dye effluent. Brands that cannot answer these questions may not be paying attention to them.

Look for certifications: OEKO-TEX, GOTS, and bluesign certifications all indicate that a product has been tested or the production process has been audited for environmental and chemical safety.

Buy less, buy better: A single well-made garment dyed with safe, eco-friendly dyes is a better environmental choice than multiple cheap garments dyed with unregulated chemicals. Fewer garments means less dyeing, less water, less pollution.

Care for what you own: Washing garments less frequently, in cold water, and with gentle detergents reduces the amount of dye released into household wastewater over the garment's lifetime. See our care guide.

Support brands that are transparent: Transparency is not the same as perfection. A brand that openly discusses its dyeing practices ~ including its limitations ~ is more trustworthy than one that makes vague "eco-friendly" claims without specifics.

The colour in our clothes does not have to come at the cost of rivers, health, or livelihoods. Sustainable dyeing is possible. It requires awareness, investment, and the willingness to choose a slightly more expensive, slightly more considered path. But it is a path that leads somewhere worth going ~ toward an industry that creates beauty without destroying the natural world that inspired it.

Hand dyeing the Anika in Mulberry ~ fabric dyed in small batches with AZO-free dyes

Explore Further

THE WORLD OF dyeing & colour

Artisan hands mixing vibrant orange and white AZO-free dyes in traditional bowls at the Daughters of India workshop

AZO-Free Dyes

What they are, why they matter, and why we use them.
Smiling woman artisan at the block printing workshop, representing the human side of sustainable fashion production

Sustainable Fashion

Beyond the buzzword ~ what sustainability really means in fashion.
Artisan pouring dye into a vat, demonstrating the careful process behind textile dyeing

Understanding Textile Dyes

The full spectrum of textile dyes explained.
Indigo-dyed fabric being revealed after dipping, showing the rich blue tones of natural dye traditions

Natural Dyes of India

The extraordinary palette of colour drawn from plants, minerals, and insects.
Explore All Craft Pages
Shipping & Returns

Our slow fashion garments are handcrafted by artisan communities in India, supporting women's empowerment and preserving ancient textile traditions.

We are a small team however we endeavour to process your order within 1-3 business days. You'll receive a tracking number by email once your order ships.

Delivery Australia International
Standard 3–7 days 5–10 days
Express 1–5 days 2–5 days


You can find our full shipping policy here.

We want you to love your Daughters of India piece. If it's not quite right, we're happy to help — simply return within 30 days and we'll issue a Daughters of India Gift Card for the full value. Your credit never expires and can be used on any piece, including new collections.

  • Items must be returned in original condition — unworn, unwashed with tags attached, folded neatly in the Daughters of India tote bag provided.
  • To arrange your return, contact us at hello@daughtersofindia.net. We recommend using a trackable shipping service.
  • Refunds are processed within 5–7 business days of receiving the return.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or store credit.

You can find our full returns policy here.

Shipping & Returns

Our slow fashion garments are handcrafted by artisan communities in India, supporting women's empowerment and preserving ancient textile traditions.

We are a small team however we endeavour to process your order within 1-3 business days. You'll receive a tracking number by email once your order ships.

Delivery Australia International
Standard 3–7 days 5–10 days
Express 1–5 days 2–5 days


You can find our full shipping policy here.

We want you to love your Daughters of India piece. If it's not quite right, we're happy to help — simply return within 30 days and we'll issue a Daughters of India Gift Card for the full value. Your credit never expires and can be used on any piece, including new collections.

  • Items must be returned in original condition — unworn, unwashed with tags attached, folded neatly in the Daughters of India tote bag provided.
  • To arrange your return, contact us at hello@daughtersofindia.net. We recommend using a trackable shipping service.
  • Refunds are processed within 5–7 business days of receiving the return.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or store credit.

You can find our full returns policy here.

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