Question 1

What is Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Ayurveda is a holistic and nuanced Vedic system of health and wellness that developed in India over 5,000 years ago.

Ayurveda is based on the five primordial elements - fire, water, air, earth and space. These elements create the three doshas or humors of the body - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each dosha is governed by different elements.

The goal of Ayurveda is to create good health through physical, mental and spiritual harmony.

This is achieved by balancing the doshas through lifestyle, daily habits, and food according to your specific body type and environment. 
 
Traditional Indian plants and herbs are used to heal any imbalances in the body. There are prescribed methods and specific ratios and combinations of herbs that are used medicinal purposes.
 
AyurSatwa's plant dye baths are infused with powerful Ayurvedic herbal and plant combinations to support balance and wellness within the body, mind, spirit and environment.

Question 2

What's the difference between natural plant dyes and Ayurvedic dyeing?

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of natural plant dyeing is to impart color to fabric.  Whereas, the primary purpose of Ayurvedic dyeing is to create beautiful,  fabrics that heal the body and balance the doshas.

Extracts from flowers, leaves, stems, bark and the roots of various plants are used to create natural plant dyes. Traditional plant dyeing uses mordants like aluminum sulphate, zinc oxide, copper, iron and tannic acids are to bind the dye to the fiber and to vary shade and intensity.

Plant based dye extractions are chemical-free and eco-friendly. Natural plant dyes do not contain any toxic residues and do not contaminate the water.
 
Ayurvedic dyeing uses a combination of plant extracts for color and medicinal herbs in prescribed combinations and ratios to promote balance and healing. Dye baths are produced without the use of mordants to ensure the highest level of purity.

Exceptions to this are our turmeric and sappanwood dye baths that are made with alum, a safe and natural mordant. These plant dyes require the use of a mordant to prevent bleeding and fortify the binding of the color to the fabric.

All of AyurSatwa's natural plant and Ayurvedic medicinal dye baths are charged with the incantation of the powerful Gayatri mantra.

AyurSatwa offers a range of plant and medicinally dyed textiles and lifestyle products to support good health and wellness.

Question 3

How do Ayurvedic medicinal dyed fabrics heal?

Accepted Answer

Ayurvedic dyed fabrics are created specifically by dyeing the threads or fibers as opposed to the fabric. This allows the medicinal herbs to penetrate deep into the fibers.

After the threads are dyed, they are handwoven on looms to create healing fabrics. The weaving process fortifies the medicinal and healing properties into the warp and weft of the cloth.

These fabrics promote healing by allowing the medicinal properties of the plants and herbs that are infused into the cloth to be absorbed by the skin and released into blood vessels.

Ayurvedic medicinally dyed fabrics and products can be used to support balance in the body. They are especially beneficial for anyone with sensitive skin and are ideal for supporting a regiment of health and well-being.
 
Medicinally dyed fabrics are NOT a replacement for treatment by a doctor or professional for health conditions and diseases.

Question 4

What is the difference between dyeing threads vs. fabrics?

Accepted Answer

AyurSatwa dyes fibers or threads before weaving them in to fabrics. This creates consistency of color and even tone throughout the fabric. Dyeing fabrics can sometimes lead to color splotches or uneven color.

We follow the Ayurvedic process of dyeing fibers or threads in natural plant and medicinal herb dye baths. This allows for the medicinal and healing properties of the plants and herbs to penetrate deep into the fibers.

Question 5

What is handloom?

Accepted Answer

Handloom textiles are created with natural fibers like cotton, silk and jute. These fibers are hand spun into yarn and thread.

These threads are woven by hand, on wooden frame looms by generational weaving communities in India to make handloom textiles. No electricity used to power the looms and instead it is the skill, dexterity and experience of the artisan that creates the cloth.

Handloom fabrics are distinguished by nuanced "imperfections" in the weave which exude a unique handmade look and feel that contrasts the sleekness of machine loomed textiles.
 
Handloom cloth is called khadi.

During the Indian Independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi called on all Indians to spin their own yarn and wear only khadi cloth to gain economic and personal independence from colonial rule. Weaving of cloth was a form of civil disobedience under colonial rule and a symbol of freedom.
 
All of AyurSatwa’s textiles are handloomed.

We believe the tradition of handloom textiles supports the independence and sustenance of communities, the environment, and creates unique and beautiful textiles. We are proud to be a part of an important Indian heritage.

Question 6

How do I care for AyurSatwa products?

Accepted Answer

1. Wash separately with a mild cleanser like soapnut. Soapnuts are dried berries of the soapberry plant that produce a gentle cleaning lather. 
2. Dry in shade and keep out of direct sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight can cause fading.
3. Avoid storing in plastic bags or boxes. It’s best to keep AyurSatwa fabrics breathing and stored in natural wood boxes or cloth bags.

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In Sanskrit, Ayur means health and Satwa means purity.

AyurSatwa supports good health with the purity of natural plants and medicinal herbs.

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