Space Dyeing

Textile coloration is an age-old art and performed in various ways. Dasanvasanangaraga, one of the ancient Indian scriptures among the 64 Kala's, is considered to include this art and is probably the oldest known source of information on the application of natural coloring components on natural fibers for apparel wear.

Following the invention of synthetic dyes and fibers post the 1856 industrialization era, the technique of textile coloration (dyeing and printing) has greatly evolved, and various methods of color application using a variety of machines at various stages of textile processing are being practiced. The usage of textile material is not only restricted to apparel wear but is also widely consumed in home furnishing and other industrial applications.

Based on the global fiber consumption survey and extrapolating the projections, it is considered that nearly 84 billion MT of textile material is annually consumed by the world population of over 7 billion, with an average per capita usage of about 12 kg. Usually, most of the textile material is processed and colored by the methods of dyeing and printing.

Generally, the term dyeing (which constitutes nearly 80% by application at the fiber, yarn, fabric, or garment stage) is used when the textile material is colored uniformly in solid shades, while the term printing (which is also called localized dyeing and comprises about 20% usage) is applied in specific designs or patterns at the fabric or garment stage. However, there is also a niche but specialized segment of printing at the yarn stage, which imparts different colors spaced across the length of the yarn, and thus it is also called "space dyeing."

Space dyeing involves dyeing yarn with multiple colors to create abstract color patterns, which may or may not repeat after a fixed interval. Such space-dyed yarns produce beautiful effects after weaving and knitting and are used to produce fancy design effects when incorporated in apparel wear, dress material, children's wear, and home furnishing. Also, the use of such space-dyed yarn is becoming popular in the carpet-making industry, which, in its subsequent tufted fabric form, imparts an effect of random, unorganized designs. Carpets are being widely used in corridors, lobbies, offices, classrooms, hotel rooms, and other public areas.

Space-dyed yarn can be dyed in either coordinating or contrasting shades. The coordinating colors are tones of neutral or assorted shades of hues like blue, green, red, which provide a subtle yet sophisticated look. While the effect of contrasting shades in space-dyed yarn includes mixing purple, red, green, and blue. Thus, space dyeing is a technique used to create lovely fabrics that shade from one color to another. Depending on the method used, the fabrics can be softly muted or vibrant. In India, this technique is mastered by many textile processors in regions like Bhiwandi and Ludhiana.