Dye is a substance used to give materials colour. Dyes give colour to the fabric used to make our clothing, as well as many other things. A dye can be natural or artificial. Artificial dyes are made by humans from chemicals. Natural dyes are mostly made from plant sources (roots, berries, bark, leaves, wood and fungi) … but there are also some dyes made from insects!
Textile dyeing dates back to the Neolithic period. People around the world have used common, locally available materials to dye fabric throughout human history. Rare, vibrant dyes were highly prized luxury items in the ancient and medieval world.