FASTNESS PROPERTIES OF FRESH AND FERMENTED DYES EXTRACTED FROM CICHA PLANTS (INDIGOFERA TRINCTORIA) ON COTTON AND SYNTHETIC FABRICS (BORNO STATE)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1         Background to the Study

The use of dye has ever been very important in creating variety of colours on fabrics used by human being. The need for dyes to beautify, renew and protect the natural appearance of clothes used is essential since cloth is one of the basic human needs. Man has tried to see that what he is wearing is attractive and presentable among his peer groups. Weber (1990) postulated that dyes create beautiful designs on cloths and colours produced serve many purposes including identity in the social life of man. The researcher developed interest to carry out a research using an indigenous plant called Cicha’. It is one of the indigo family plants, botanically known as „indigoferaTrinctoria‟ and „Baba‟ in Hausa.

Dye extraction is the process whereby natural dye sourcing materials plants, animals and minerals have been used to obtain colorant for dyeing textile materials. To extract dye from vegetables the dye material is covered with water and the solution heated to boiling point until the colour is transferred from the materials to the water. On the other hand the material is mixed in the water for a given period of time to allow the colour transferred into the water. Extraction of dye can be carried out by using solvent as the extraction medium.

This plant is available in southern part of Borno State. ‘Cicha’is a seasonal plant grown in cluster. The plants have been a source of dye used for dyeing traditional clothes ^„jabta, „bull‟ „danbatir,’ and ‘kudzirmunggil‟ among bura people, but neglected after the advent of synthetic dyes. This plant „Cicha‟ grows about one meter to at most two meters

tall above ground level. The stems have been used for making local bed frame and local door mats, the leaves were used to extract dye for dyeing traditional fabric and grey hair. ‘Cicha’ is not consumed by animals and no labour is given for its production.It is a wild plant which has been an economical plant in the society.

Aurora, (2011) opined that the art of using natural dye sourcing material like „indigo‟ plants for extracting dye signifies wealth. In line with Aurora, the researcher think that any society that have natural dye sourcing plants available when used skillfully can add to the economical uplifting of that society, so the use of „cicha‟ need to be revived. Dyeing is a skill that promotes the social norms and values of a society. The value of being creative and productive independent of a society is a crown in social status and religious learning including the cultural diversity and professional status. Human being’s potentiality is seen through the beauty, riches, and uniqueness in craft work of any society (Ali and Gwari, 2011).

FASTNESS PROPERTIES OF FRESH AND FERMENTED DYES EXTRACTED FROM CICHA PLANTS (INDIGOFERA TRINCTORIA) ON COTTON AND SYNTHETIC FABRICS (BORNO STATE)