Colorful dyes make vibrant garments. And vibrant garments turn heads. But does that come at a cost? Are fabric dyes harmful to the environment and even us humans who put them on?

Not all dyes are harmful. Textile dyes are harmful when they're synthetically manufactured using toxic chemicals, as these chemicals pollute waterways and may cause health issues like skin irritation and even cancer.

News flash: 90% of clothes are made with synthetic dyes.

So it's safe to generalize: clothing dyes are indeed harmful. And the effects are pretty grave.

That's why sustainable brands like Ichcha are working hard to change the narrative. By shifting to natural dyes extracted from plants and minerals, we can reduce the toxicity of textile dyeing to zero, protecting not just the planet but also you the consumer and the workers who are exposed to these materials.

How Toxic Textile Dyes Affect the Environment

Fabric dyeing remains the second largest pollutant in the world, contributing 20% of global water pollution. From the production of the dyes to the moment you wash your garment, textile dyeing leaves a big bad environmental footprint in its wake.

• Chemical production of synthetic dyes involves high energy use and consumption of fossil fuels.
• The actual dyeing phase consumes large amounts of water. Experts estimate 200 tons of water for every ton of textiles.
• Synthetic dyes contain hazardous materials, such as mordants (chemicals used to bind dye to fabric), microfibers, heavy metals, and carcinogens.
• Wastewater from the textile dyeing process contains residue of these hazardous materials, all of which are dumped in waterways, especially in developing countries.
• Many rivers in developing countries are turning black as a result.
• More people are losing access to clean drinking water.
• Once this polluted water gets into the ocean, it affects every aspect of the food chain. Aquatic life is destroyed and fishermen struggle to catch fish and earn a living.
• About 10-50% of textile dyes pass along with wastewater into the oceans. (That's humongous!)
• These toxic substances do not biodegrade, so they remain in the environment.
• The World Bank has identified 72 different toxic chemicals in water sources, all from textile dyeing alone.

Horrifying, to say the least.

But the harmful effect of textile dyes doesn't end with the environment. Synthetic dyes are just as dangerous for the consumers and the garment workers at the factory.

How Textiles Dyes Affect Humans

Arguably the saddest part about fast fashion is that brands outsource bulk of their textile production to developing countries like Bangladesh and China where cheap labor is accessible. Many rivers there have gone literally black due to wastewater from textile dyeing. Aside from the fact that workers are taken advantage of and paid unfair wages, the horrors of synthetic fabric dyeing are monumental.

• Some azo dyes, which account for 70% of all dyes in the industry, are known carcinogens. Carcinogens are chemicals that cause cancer.
• Phthalates and NPEs, chemicals produced in vast quantities during textile dyeing, are known as endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with your endocrine system (think hormones).
• Garment workers are perpetually exposed to these harmful substances. In such dosage, this toxicity can cause asthma, eye irritation, and breathlessness.
• Most of these dyes are soluble in water, making them likely to absorb into your skin and cause irritation among other symptoms.

This isn't a matter of "may happen." Residents in Bangladesh living near polluted waterways report skin irritation and fever after bathing or washing in the water.

What's most painful? Due to a lack of access to clean water, these people have no other option but to drink from the water. Say hello to gastrointestinal problems and more skin diseases.

In a study published in the Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine, workers exposed to textile dyeing reported significantly more respiratory and skin problems than non-exposed persons. Skin disorders affected 32.8% of individuals exposed to textile dyes.

It's that bad.

So what can we do?

The textile industry is too important to the economy of developing countries like Bangladesh, so shutting down factories is totally out of the question.

What we can do is shift to sustainable alternatives like natural dyes. Made from plants and natural minerals without any industrial process, natural dyes contain zero toxic materials and are safe for workers and consumers.

Knowing that and the adverse impacts of synthetic dyes, the big question is...

Why Do Fashion Brands Still Use Toxic Dyes?

Because synthetic dyes are cheap and easy to mass-produce.

You see, synthetic dyes weren't always a thing. Think about it. Before the Industrial Revolution, how were clothes given their vibrant colors?

Natural, manual processes!

Manual is often synonymous with slow.

But it was just enough... until textile production became industrialized. As more and more textiles were produced at lightning speed, manual dyeing processes just couldn't keep up. Fortunately—and not so fortunately—William Henry Perkin stumbled upon a chemical reaction that produced purple dyes. These synthetic dyes are cheaper and faster to produce. And so the shift from slow to fast fashion exploded.

Today, 90% of clothing is dyed synthetically.

Most azo dyes are outlawed in EU countries. But if your clothes are manufactured in a country where they are not banned, there’s a good chance you’ll still wear these hazardous substances on your skin. Not so cool.

Reverting to Sustainable Dyeing: What We're Doing to Eliminate the Impact of Dyes

55-year-old Abdul (pseudonym) who has lived in Savar for the past 18 years has been separated from his two children and grandson because of the polluted waterways.

"The kids get sick if they stay here," he said.

No one deserves such a life.

At Ichcha, we understand how deeply our lifestyle choices impact not just the planet but also our personal lives and health. We started Ichcha, meaning "a wish", to live and encourage everyone to live consciously; conscious of the environment and of the value and life of the products created.

From sustainable clothing to block print napkins and gift items, all our textiles are made with your safety and the environment in mind. Each fabric is dyed in a bath of natural dyes made from flowers, vegetables, and minerals. Instead of using toxic mordants to bind dye to fabric, we leave the textiles to dry under the beaming Indian sun. Then, we wash them in open tubs to remove any excess color.

 

Our sustainability doesn't stop with the dyeing process. We use only natural fabrics like cotton and silk. No synthetics. Plus, we use the ancient, sustainable printing process known as block printing to create gorgeous, one-of-a-kind designs.

But a brand is nothing without its consumers.

So we invite you to join us in making this global change.

Together, we can promote a shift towards more sustainable fashion.

By so doing, brands that do not care about your health, their workers, and the environment will be compelled to change or else fall behind.

This is the only way forward.

You can check out these beautiful sets of sustainable block print clothing.

Azo Dyes: The Biggest Culprit in Fabric Dyeing Toxicity

Azo dyes are known to particularly create vibrant colors, but they can easily dissolve into the skin to cause irritation and even cancer over time.

Although azo dyes are banned in the EU, no such restrictions exist in the US and elsewhere. In fact, up to 70% of all colorants in the industry are azo dyes.

Quinoline Dyes

Quinoline dyes are known carcinogens. They are often used in polyester clothing and even baby clothing.

Polyester Dyes

Special kinds of azo dyes are used on synthetic fabrics like polyester because of their ability to bind well. These dyes can cause skin rashes. If you react to a certain fabric, you may want to do a patch test or discard it.

How to Avoid Toxic Dyes when Shopping Fashion

The environmental impact of the fashion industry is heartbreaking. To protect people like Abdul who bear the brunt of textile dyeing pollution, you can start by reducing your clothing consumption. Impulsive buying creates more demand, leading to more production and pollution.

• Avoid fast fashion. Buy durable, high-quality clothes you can wear repeatedly, irrespective of fashion trends.
• Choose ethical fashion brands. They must be transparent about how they’re reducing their environmental footprint throughout the supply chain.
• Avoid synthetic clothes with vibrant colors. They are usually made with azo dyes.
• Opt for natural fabrics, including cotton, silk, wool, hemp, and modal.

Read more on how to dress sustainably.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Is Fabric Dye Toxic?

Yes, most conventional fabric dyes are toxic because they contain synthetic chemicals that can pollute waterways and harm human health. However, natural dyes made from plants and minerals are a safer alternative.

Is Textile Dyeing Harmful to Humans?

Yes, many synthetic fabric dyes are harmful to humans. Exposure can lead to skin irritation, respiratory issues, and even long-term health effects like cancer due to carcinogenic chemicals from azo dyes.

What are the Harmful Effects of Synthetic Dyes on the Environment?

Textile dyes, particularly synthetic ones, contribute to environmental contamination, pollute drinking water, and expose workers to hazardous chemicals. They can also cause respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other health complications for both garment workers and consumers.

What are Some Examples of Toxic Dyes?

Azo dyes are some of the most toxic dyes ever. They contain carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect both humans and wildlife. Other toxic dyes include benzidine-based dyes and Red 3.

What is Natural Dye in Textile?

Natural dyes are made from plants, flowers, and minerals, free from harmful chemicals. At Ichcha, we use only natural dyes, which are safe for you and the environment, ensuring adorable yet eco-friendly products.

Which Industry Produces the Most Waste Water?

Wastewater from textile plants is classified as the most polluting of all the industrial sectors, given the tremendous volume and concentration of textile dye effluents.

How Much Water Pollution Comes from the Textile Industry?

Fabric dyeing contributes to 20% of the world's water pollution, with up to 50% of synthetic dyes washing off into waterways. Textile dye effluents from factories have turned rivers black in many developing countries.

Check out how Ichcha is making a difference. 

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