Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants: A Case Study in the Chin Ethnic Group of Western Myanmar
Traditional knowledge of the plants used for textile dyeing is disappearing due to the utilization of synthetic dyes. Recently, natural products made from plants have gained global interest. Thus, preserving traditional knowledge of textile dyeing plants is crucial. Here, we documented this knowledg...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| author | Tial C. Ling Angkhana Inta Kate E. Armstrong Damon P. Little Pimonrat Tiansawat Yong-Ping Yang Patcharin Phokasem Za Khai Tuang Chainarong Sinpoo Terd Disayathanoowat |
| author_facet | Tial C. Ling Angkhana Inta Kate E. Armstrong Damon P. Little Pimonrat Tiansawat Yong-Ping Yang Patcharin Phokasem Za Khai Tuang Chainarong Sinpoo Terd Disayathanoowat |
| author_sort | Tial C. Ling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional knowledge of the plants used for textile dyeing is disappearing due to the utilization of synthetic dyes. Recently, natural products made from plants have gained global interest. Thus, preserving traditional knowledge of textile dyeing plants is crucial. Here, we documented this knowledge by interviewing 2070 informants from 14 communities of the Chin ethnic group of Myanmar. The Chin communities we interviewed used a total of 32 plant species for textile dyeing from 29 genera in 24 families. <i>Chromolaena odorata</i>, <i>Lithocarpus fenestratus</i>, and <i>L</i>. <i>pachyphyllus</i> were the most important dye species. The most common responses described dyes that were red in color, produced from leaves, derived from tree species, collected from the wild, and used as firewood ash as a mordant to fix the dye to the fabrics. According to the IUCN Red List of threatened species, one species was registered as Data Deficient, 20 species still needed to be categorized, and 11 species were categorized as Least Concern. This study will help re-establish the use of natural dyes, encourage the cultural integrity of the indigenous people, and serve as an example for other communities to preserve their traditional knowledge of plant textile dyes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:07:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8b7c95be4664734902947c9f15c3fb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:07:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8b7c95be4664734902947c9f15c3fb62023-11-24T14:22:57ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-12-011412106510.3390/d14121065Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants: A Case Study in the Chin Ethnic Group of Western MyanmarTial C. Ling0Angkhana Inta1Kate E. Armstrong2Damon P. Little3Pimonrat Tiansawat4Yong-Ping Yang5Patcharin Phokasem6Za Khai Tuang7Chainarong Sinpoo8Terd Disayathanoowat9Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandInstitute of Systematic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, NY 10458, USAThe Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USAForest Restoration Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandKey Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research at Kunming, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, ChinaBee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, IsraelBee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandBee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandTraditional knowledge of the plants used for textile dyeing is disappearing due to the utilization of synthetic dyes. Recently, natural products made from plants have gained global interest. Thus, preserving traditional knowledge of textile dyeing plants is crucial. Here, we documented this knowledge by interviewing 2070 informants from 14 communities of the Chin ethnic group of Myanmar. The Chin communities we interviewed used a total of 32 plant species for textile dyeing from 29 genera in 24 families. <i>Chromolaena odorata</i>, <i>Lithocarpus fenestratus</i>, and <i>L</i>. <i>pachyphyllus</i> were the most important dye species. The most common responses described dyes that were red in color, produced from leaves, derived from tree species, collected from the wild, and used as firewood ash as a mordant to fix the dye to the fabrics. According to the IUCN Red List of threatened species, one species was registered as Data Deficient, 20 species still needed to be categorized, and 11 species were categorized as Least Concern. This study will help re-establish the use of natural dyes, encourage the cultural integrity of the indigenous people, and serve as an example for other communities to preserve their traditional knowledge of plant textile dyes.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/12/1065Chin ethnicitycolorethnobotanyLutuv-Chinnatural dyestextile plants |
| spellingShingle | Tial C. Ling Angkhana Inta Kate E. Armstrong Damon P. Little Pimonrat Tiansawat Yong-Ping Yang Patcharin Phokasem Za Khai Tuang Chainarong Sinpoo Terd Disayathanoowat Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants: A Case Study in the Chin Ethnic Group of Western Myanmar Diversity Chin ethnicity color ethnobotany Lutuv-Chin natural dyes textile plants |
| title | Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants: A Case Study in the Chin Ethnic Group of Western Myanmar |
| title_full | Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants: A Case Study in the Chin Ethnic Group of Western Myanmar |
| title_fullStr | Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants: A Case Study in the Chin Ethnic Group of Western Myanmar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants: A Case Study in the Chin Ethnic Group of Western Myanmar |
| title_short | Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants: A Case Study in the Chin Ethnic Group of Western Myanmar |
| title_sort | traditional knowledge of textile dyeing plants a case study in the chin ethnic group of western myanmar |
| topic | Chin ethnicity color ethnobotany Lutuv-Chin natural dyes textile plants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/12/1065 |
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