Can You Dye Banarasi Sarees?

Silk sarees are the epitome of fashion, aren’t they? However, there is a queen among such sarees, the Banarasi silk saree. Their color, texture, and fabric remain priceless for ages. However, many times, you will find the old sarees in a faded state due to improper storage. So, the first question that comes to mind is “can Banarasi saree be dyed?” Here I will discuss the answer and everything related to your concerns right below. Keep reading!

Banarasi sarees can be dyed like any other silk ensembles. They can be dyed using food coloring or natural dyes like turmeric, beetroot, and different flowers. A mixture of dying element and water can be boiled, and natural filtrate can be separated to prepare the dye for the sarees.

How to Dye Banarasi Sarees?

Did you know that raw silk has no color? Yes, you’ve read it correctly! However, weavers dye Banarasi silk sarees to surface beautiful combinations and palettes. Now, you might be thinking that the readymade sarees undergo special techniques to get dyed. But how to dye Banarasi sarees at home in the most convenient manner? Don’t worry anymore! Here are the ways to dye Banarasi sarees effortlessly.

1. Dying Banarasi Sarees with Natural Colors

We cannot deny the fact that Banarasi sarees are made of natural silk. Raw silk is soft and prone to hazards. So, chemical dyes might ruin the sheen of Banarasi silk sarees, especially when you conduct the process at home. To be on the safer side, you can utilize natural dyestuffs and pigments that are mild and silk-friendly. 

Now that you have chosen natural dyes for the process, the first step is to select suitable pigments from nature. Looking around, you can find numerous pigments and dyestuffs that impart permanent colors on Banarasi silk sarees. Some of the best elements that act as natural colors for Banarasi sarees are:

• Beetroot
• Turmeric
• Red Cabbage
• Pomegranate
• Hibiscus Flower
• Aparajita Flowers

Besides these, you can use several other elements as natural dyes for your Banarasi silk sarees. Based on the color you want to apply to the Banarasi saree, you can pick the favorite pigment and begin the hard work.

Process of Naturally Dying Banarasi Silk Sarees

Choosing the right pigment for Banarasi silk sarees is not difficult. However, the process to color the sarees can be challenging. However, you can effortlessly dye a Banarasi saree by following the below steps. Take a look!

• Chop and slightly crush the dying element.
• Now, mix one part of natural dye and two parts of water in a pot.
• Bring the solution in the pot to a boil and let it simmer for about an hour.
• Once done, you can strain the solution to separate natural filtrate and get a clear dyeing liquid.
• Meanwhile, you can prepare the saree for dying by preparing a solution of vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:4.
• Further, place the saree in the solution and let everything slowly boil for 30-45 minutes.
• Finally, place the fabric into the dye solution and let it simmer until you get the desired shade.
• Wash the saree and let it dry in a cool and dry place.

2. Food Colors are Silk-Friendly

Let’s admit that natural dyes are not capable of providing your Banarasi silk sarees with a bold and bright color. So, you can utilize food colors to get the desired palette without affecting silk fibers. Are you wondering how to dye Banarasi sarees using these colors? Here are the steps to do so!

• Begin the process by preparing the fabric for further steps. You can prepare a solution comprising 1 part of vinegar and 4 parts of water.
• Now, soak your Banarasi saree in the solution and let everything boil for half an hour.
• Take a few drops of food coloring in a cup of hot water and stir well.
• Next, pour the dye solution into a bowl of warm water and add some vinegar to the mixture.
• Now, gently add the saree into the coloring solution and bring everything to a slow boil. Let it simmer for around 20 minutes while ensuring that the entire saree is submerged into the coloring mixture.
• Remove the Banarasi saree from the solution and rinse well to wash off excess colors.
• Dry the garment in a shady and cool place for best outcomes.

Finally, you have the perfectly dyed Banarasi saree at home. The best part is that you did everything at home! Let’s face it that the practical implementation of the above steps can be tedious. A small mistake and you risk ruining the Banarasi silk saree forever. So, you require glancing at the precautions that you must take to ensure a seamless process.

Precautions to Dye Banarasi Sarees

Mostly, at-home dyed Banarasi sarees comprise many imperfections. However, you can overcome all these problems by adhering to the following precautions when dyeing Banarasi sarees at home.

• Stay away from natural products that impart color to the fabric but fall harsh on the fibers.
• When boiling the saree to prepare for dyeing, ensure that the fabric does not burn.
• Use organic food coloring over chemical ones. The latter might harm the fabric and tear it.
• Use vinegar to some extent only. Since it is a harsh chemical, too much vinegar can spoil the Banarasi sarees.
• Drying the Banarasi saree under sunlight will decolorize the fabric in some time, especially when the dye is new and fresh. So, try drying the saree in a shady place.
• Be gentle throughout the process, especially when stirring the fabric as agitation might damage the fibers dramatically.

Faded and dull Banarasi sarees are no longer a reality. You always have the best way to fix such sarees by dyeing them and providing them with an all-new appearance. All you need is to consider the precautions when dyeing your Banarasi sarees at home. Finally, you can use some mild color fixing agents to ensure the dye doesn’t run off from your Banarasi sarees. That’s it! Now, you can take care of the saree and store it properly to ensure that the color stays for the longest time on your Banarasi sarees.