plant-dyed

Plant dyes skip the synthetic dye chemistry used on most clothing, including the azo dyes the EU bans because they can release cancer-linked chemicals. How a piece was mordanted matters too, so ask the brand which fixer it uses.

They soften faster than synthetic dyes, especially in sun and hot washes. Wash cold with gentle soap and dry out of direct sunlight to keep the color longer.

A mordant is a fixer that helps a natural dye bond to fiber. Traditional mordants are metal salts like alum, iron or chromium. Bio-mordants use plant tannins instead. Chromium is the one to question, because the EU limits chromium VI in clothing.

Not in any practical way. Plant dyes bond to natural fibers like cotton, linen, silk and wool. Polyester is a plastic, and it needs synthetic disperse dyes applied under heat and pressure.

No. Origin and process badges come from what the brand states about each product. We don't audit factories, so these badges are information, not verification. They never change a Toxome score, which comes from what the garment is made of.