The production of mud-dyed fabrics is very complicated. The entire production process is done by hand, and the dyeing effect depends on the weather and the experience of the craftsmen.
Dioscorea is a type of yam used in mud dyeing, rich in a chemical called tannin. To do mud dyeing, the first step is to immerse the fabric in a brown dioscorea dye solution and then expose the dyed fabric to the sun. After dyeing and exposure are repeated several times, the fabric is then immersed in mud. The iron-rich river bottom mud reacts chemically with the tannin in the dioscorea dyeing solution, turning the fabric from brown to dark gray and giving it a unique luster.
photography: Hongjia Pan
Mud Dye
