Mid Tote Bag Stain Dye Lac Dye / Soda
Naturally dyed. Made from robust organic cotton, individually processed and dyed in the Cosmaki natural dyeing studio.
Hand-dyed
Natural dyes
Individually manufactured
Brief description
Hand-dyed mid tote bag using the stain-dye process with lac dye extract and soda; the color is achieved through several hours of contact in open dye baths and develops a pinkish-violet, cloudy reaction pattern.
Fit
- Long handles made from the same main material with cross-stitching for reinforcement
Technical description
Materials & Preparation
- Material: 100% cotton canvas, recycled open-end yarn, pre-washed — 220 GSM
- Construction: Bellows pleat at the bottom, long canvas handles, inner pocket made of main material
- Edge: folded hem with single-needle stitch
- Pre-mordanting: Aluminum triformate (cold mordant) to prepare the fiber for vegetable dyes
Dyeing system
- Colorant: Lac Dye Extract
- Additive: Soda to activate the dye solution
Process parameters
- Method: Stain-dyeing by layering in open dyeing trays without full immersion
- Contact time: Exposure phases lasting several days with varying wetting intensity
- Cure Phase: Resting phase to stabilize the dye binding before final washing.
- Oxidation: natural color development through contact with air
- Final step: Rinse, machine wash with mild detergent, steam finish and air dry.
Coloring page
- Base tone: Pink to magenta tones, depending on concentration and contact zones
- Pattern: cloudy, irregular structures caused by storage in the tub
- Structure: fine, soft pigment clumps in areas of prolonged moisture
Production
- Location: Cosmaki Natural Dyeing Studio, Cologne
- Date of dyeing: October 9, 2025
- Method: fully manual dyeing process in small batches
Notes
- Each bag develops a unique color pattern.
- Slight tonal changes may occur during use.
- Care: Wash separately or with similar colors for the first two washes, in cold or lukewarm water; use a gentle detergent.
- Details
- dyeing process
- Care
- 100% organic cotton blank
- Single coloring
- Small production quantity
- Made in Cologne
- Pre-washed
- Preparation with aluminium triformate (cold pickling)
- Use of natural dyes
- Hand-dyed
- Each batch may vary slightly.
- Wash separately or with similar colors for the first two washes.
- cold or lukewarm
- Liquid detergent for delicates
- No bleach
- The color may change slightly over time.
Dyeing series
Dyeing in small quantities
All accessories are dyed in small batches or individually. The dyes act directly on the fiber, making each piece a visible result of the respective dyeing process.
Studio in Cologne
Production on site
The dyeing process takes place at the Cosmaki natural dyeing studio in Cologne. Every step is done manually – from preparing the dye solution to the final washing and drying.
