Natural dyes

Origin of colors

Red came from madder root, blue from indigo arriving via trade routes, yellow and brown from onion skins, walnut and pomegranate peels, black from iron-rich soil and tannin decoctions. White was not dyed: it is the natural color of wool.

Why the palette was limited

Not because of modesty of taste, but because of the availability of raw materials and the durability of the dye. A color that faded in a season was not used for a carpet. Therefore, a traditional shyrdak is read from afar: two or three saturated colors and a contrasting border — this is a consequence of technology, not a stylistic decision.

Today

Modern dyes provide any shade and withstand washing better. However, a narrow palette remains a reliable guide: a three-color item looks traditional, while an eight-color item looks like a souvenir, even if every motif in it is authentic.