The present study utilizes natural dyestuffs which would not contribute to environmental pollution and
undertaken to explore promising approach to reduce costs of dye process. The natural dyes of henna and
onion skin were used to dye different fabric materials, i.e. 100 % cotton, 100 % polyester and 35 %
cotton / 65 % polyester blend. The low temperature 30 °C and the high temperature 100 °C under closed
dyeing system were applied in this study. The results indicated that, using the natural dyes (henna and
onion skin) with the previously mentioned fabrics under the low temperature (30° C) resulted in an
increase in fabric strength of the 100 % cotton fabric and the 35 % cotton / 65 % polyester blend, while
no change in fabric strength of the 100 % polyester material. Thus it appeared that using these natural
dyes would not cause any deterioration in fabric strength. On the other hand, the fabric elongation was
not affected by the dyeing process. The results showed that the shrinkage values of fabrics dyed with
henna were generally lower than the corresponding values of fabrics dyed with onion skin. All fabric
materials under this study when dyed with henna and onion skin, revealed higher fastness to light and
wash, lower fastness for alkali and acid perspiration. Finally, it was observed that using high
temperature and closed dyeing system was not suitable for dyeing these kinds of fabrics with henna and
onion skin dyes.
Keywords: Eco-friendly, cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester