APPLICATION OF ECO-PRINTING ON COTTON FABRIC THROUGH VARIOUS TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Eco Printing is a modern application of naturally dyeing fabric with plant leaves and flowers. In this
study, eco-printing was applied on cotton fabric by use of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Psidium
guajava leaves. The eco-printing was applied by using four different techniques such as steaming,
boiling, solar dying and heat press. The fabric was pre-mordant with alum, ferrous oxide and madder
mordents. The result of these four techniques was evaluated by close-ended questionnaire. The result
of steaming with alum mordant showed dark green with detailed printed veins of leaves with Psidium
guajava and back of this leaf also showed dark green outline of a leaf while result of Eucalyptus
camaldulensis showed faded colour. The steaming with Ferrous oxide mordant, showed black outlines
of leaves with fading colors. The steaming with alum and Ferrous oxide showed dark green outlines of
both these leaves. It was also inferred that pale colors which bled outside the outlines of leaf prints. The
boiling techniques showed clear and light tones of equal red shades of leaves with detailed prints of
leaves with proper outline. The solar dying techniques, showed light shades of faded pink with light
outlines of leaves were with this technique but didn’t have deeper prints of leaves. The heat press
techniques, showed only veins and outlines of leaves while the color of the leaves was faded.