Rooibos is the ‘hottest herb’ of the season, and not just for tea. Fashion has taken a rooibos-led turn, and is slowing down because of it.
Global (07 June, 2023) — In the fight against fast fashion, brands have to look at more than just the materials they use, how conscious their packaging is, or how their factories impact the environment. The little things matter as much as the big ones, and something as simple as a sustainable dye switch can create a snowball effect of slow change, faster. That’s why Rooibos is the ‘hottest herb’ of the season.
Rooibos, the tea and herbal blend we all know and love has saved a nation from many grumpy moments, helped us through hard conversations and given us warmth on the days our noses turned to ice cubs. Now, the famous herb is taking on the fashion world, extending globally to brands looking to be more conscious everywhere.
According to the South African Rooibos Council, manufacturers looking for more ethical and sustainable practices have turned to multiple natural sources from algae to herbal tisanes.
In the case of Rooibos, it’s being used as a sought-after dye for all types of clothing, meaning a non-toxic way to colour clothes.
“Colouring garments using non-toxic, biodegradable and eco-friendly natural dyes like Rooibos could significantly reduce the textile industry’s carbon footprint,” shares Adele du Toit, SA Rooibos Council spokesperson.
Here, Rooibos not only creates a cleaner path for fashion, but a slower one.
Rooibos has become so popular as a natural dye, it even has its own Pantone colour code. Not to mention, multiple famous brands have jumped on the Rooibos bandwagon already.
Sip on This
Rooibos as a natural dye works for a lot of reasons. Here are some of the most important:
- Colour vibrance
- Biodegradable nature
- Non-toxic
- Antimicrobial Properties
- Higher UV absorption (better protection from the sun)
- No waste from production
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