Sustainable Coloration of Jute Fabric using Natural Dyes with Improved Color Yield and Functional Properties

Jute is a renewable, biodegradable, and lignocellulosic natural fiber traditionally used for making packaging material. Due to the environmentally-friendly nature of this fiber, it is now used for making diversified and value-added products including upholstery, furnishing textiles, handicraft items, soft toys, and even apparel. Jute fabric was dyed with natural dyes extracted from manjistha, annatto, ratanjot, and babool by a pre-mordanting method. Dye extraction conditions were standardized and applied on pre-mordanted jute fabric. There was a substantial improvement of color yield, levelness of dyeing, and washfastness properties of naturally dyed jute fabric after double pre-mordanting using bio-mordants and inorganic mordants. Lightfastness (moderate to good), crockfastness (very good to excellent), and UV protection (very good) ratings were determined, as well as antimicrobial activity.