History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c20.6

v1.c20.6

There are many archaeological and literary sources to prove that the art of dyeing was in vogue ever since the dawn of civilization in India. Dyes and dyeing are problems with which man was concerned since ancient times. A dye is a coloured substance which imparts more or less permanent colour to other materials. All coloured substances cannot be used as dyes. Some coloured substances, usually organic chemical compounds may be added to cloth in water and after a period of soaking, usually accompanied by heat and agitation, the cloth will be coloured and the colour also remains fast.