The study examined the influence of chitosan to improve dye absorption on
cotton farbric using Mangosteen Rind. The results of this study concluded that
the cotton fabrics treated with chitosan had better depth of shade than those of the
untreated fabrics dyed with Mangosteen Rind. This may be because the chitosan
treated cotton fabrics provided more dye sites than those present on the untreated
fabric. The cotton fabrics treated with chitosan not only provided better depth of
shade but also provided better wash fastness and light fastness than those of the
untreated fabrics when dyed with Mangosteen Rind. The use of different
mordants and mordanting methods affected the dye shade and depth of shade
differently on the dyed fabrics both with and without chitosan. Only natural dyes
can have their shades changed by using different mordants. This phenomenon
cannot be observed in synthetic dyes. The cotton fabrics dyed with mordants had
better wash fastness and light fastness than those of cotton fabrics dyed without
mordant.