Our Natural Color Palette and Plant-Based Dyes
Discover pigments born directly from plants and minerals. From deep indigo blues to vibrant madder reds, our non-toxic dyes bring the colors of nature to your fabric and art projects.
Let's make life beautiful, one shade at a time. These colorful yarns are all dyed naturally, showcasing the rich and varied palette that we can achieve using only materials gifted to us by the earth.
Did you know that beautiful colors can be extracted from plants like the pomegranate? We use these natural sources as an alternative to petrochemical-based dyes, protecting our health and our planet.
This is Rustic Red Passion, a natural watercolor derived from the madder plant. It's available in our online ColorShop for use on both fabric and paper.
Warm Yellow Serenity, a cheerful hue created from turmeric and pomegranate. This natural watercolor brings a touch of sunshine to any creative project.
Mystical Indigo Twilight, a deep and calming blue from the indigo plant. Indigo dyeing is a magical process, and the resulting color is one of our most beloved.
Gentle Green Tranquility, a soothing green made from harda and iron. This color embodies the calm and peace of nature.
Whispering Violet Dreams, a complex and beautiful shade created by combining indigo and madder. This demonstrates how we can mix our natural dyes to create new colors.
About this collection
When you work with these pigments, keep in mind that they behave differently than synthetic paints. Because they are derived from living sources like pomegranate, madder, and iron, the final result can shift slightly depending on your base material—whether it is organic cotton, khadi, or paper. It is an organic process, not a factory-standard one, so we encourage you to embrace those subtle variations as part of the art.
The Science of Slow Color
At Color Ashram, we don't just use colors; we engage with the source. Our pigments are extracted from nature—Indigo for that deep, twilight blue, Madder and Pomegranate for earthy reds and yellows, and Harda mixed with iron for muted, soulful greens. We have focused on creating standardized, ready-to-use pastes that remove the barrier to entry for beginners and artists alike.
Innovation Meets Tradition
While our techniques are rooted in traditional wisdom, we are constantly innovating. Our co-founder Arun has developed unique one-step dyes that require no complex mordanting, making the process accessible for home use. We have also expanded into oil-based natural colors, allowing artists to bring the same non-toxic philosophy to canvas painting. Whether you are block printing a stole or painting a mural, these colors provide a vibrant, earth-friendly alternative to petrochemical-based options.
How to Get Started
If you are new to this, we recommend starting with our DIY kits. They come with everything you need—dye pastes, bamboo tools, and practice fabric—so you can learn by doing. For those in Mysuru, our studio in the Hebbal Industrial Area is open to anyone—artists, students, and hobbyists—who wants to get their hands stained and learn the craft in a real-world, collaborative space.
Color Ashram
We are Color Ashram, a makerspace in Mysuru where hands get messy and ideas bloom. I’m Namrata, and along with Arun, we believe color should heal rather than harm our planet. We created these plant-based pigments to help you bring the gentle, authentic hues of the earth into your own creative work.
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