Color palette
Did you know natural dyeing is one of the oldest crafts known ever since textiles were invented?
Malai is available in a range of colours achieved through the use of mordant-free natural dyes and it can develop a soft sheen or patina over time. All our dyes come from the flower, bark or tuber of plants found locally in India.
Due to the choice of such dyes no two sheets of Malai biocomposite will be color identical - the difference in shade can range up to 10%. We try to maintain the dyeing results as consistently as possible however this method has its limitations and we would appreciate your understanding of this.
Dark Grey
Although we cannot produce sheets of black (black is difficult to achieve using natural dyes), we can achieve deep and rich shades of dark grey. This color is created using extracts from Gallnuts and Iron oxide.
Leafy Green
Leafy green is our most exclusive color and the newest addition to our palette. Although we are surrounded in nature by shades of the color green, it is typically unstable as a plant extracted dye. The dye we use, is an exception and will not fade over time thanks to a patented technology.
Cumin Yellow
The color of this shade is derived from petals of Marigold and from skins of Pomegranates. Warm, light tone of yellow resembling the color of ground cumin.
Cutch Brown
Cutch is a tree native to India that yields beautiful warm shades of browns. Depending on the concentration of the dye, various tones can be achieved. The bark is used not only as dye but in South Indian culture drinking water is often boiled with a piece of cutch in it due to its medicinal properties.
Natural
Malai biocomposite material in its natural, pure shade. Only unbleached fibres are used in the making of the material, and the shade can vary from light beige to light brown depending on the batch and character of the fibres used.
Light Indigo
Indigo is a plant native to India and the very reason India was named India long time ago by traders and travellers of the time. Indigo we use is grown and processed in India. Light Indigo shade is made from a very low concentration of Indigo plant extract and resembles washed denim.
Dark Indigo
Indigo is a plant native to India and the very reason India was named India long time ago by traders and travellers of the time. Indigo we use is grown and processed in India. Dark Indigo sheets of Malai are dyed with a rich Indigo vat yielding beautiful, deep blue shades.
Madder Red
Madder Red is a beautiful, rich and deep shade achieved with a humble plant Madder which has been known to humanity for many many years.
Dusky Pink
Dusky pink sheets of Malai bear soft, earthy tones of pink. The color is achieved by using a very low concentration of Madder root extract, a dye well known for its rich and intense red yielding capacity.