Pomegranate Extract

Shepherd Textiles Pomegranate Extract is made from the rinds of punica granatum, the common pomegranate. Pomegranate rinds are rich in ellagic tannins which produce warm yellow shades on natural fibers. Pre-mordanting with alum wil emphasize the warmth of the yellow, but the high tannin content means that Pomegranate Extract can be applied without a mordant as well. Pomegranate Extract is often used to tan cotton before mordanting it, or to put down a warm base before overdyeing with other colors. Fibers dyed with pomegranate and then dipped in a weak indigo bath will develop a beautiful teal shade. Fibers dyed with pomegranate and then saddened with iron will turn a gorgeous slate gray. The effect is particularly nice on silk and on T-shirt cotton.

Use at 10% weight-of-fabric (WOF) for warm yellow-brown shades. Sadden afterwards in a bath containing 4% WOF iron for slate gray and gray-green tones. Check out our Guide to Dyeing with Pomegranate Extract for more color recipes and background information.

Product of India. Certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for use on fibers that will be labeled “organic.”