Dyeing cotton, wool and silk with Hibiscus mutabilis (Gulzuba)

Hibiscus mutabilis (Gulzuba)/Cotton rose/ belongs to family Malvaceae produces natural dye which has been used for dyeing textiles. Aqueous extract of Gulzuba flowers yield shades with good fastness properties. The dye has good scope in the commercial dyeing of cotton, silk for garment industry and wool yarn for carpet industry. In the present study dyeing with gulzuba has been shown to give good dyeing results. Pretreatment with 2–4 % metal mordants and keeping M:L ratio as 1:40 for the weight of the fabric to plant extract is optimum showing very good fastness properties for cotton, silk and wool dyed fabrics.