19th Century Reds by Nancy Gere for Windham Fabrics, c.1875.

19th Century Reds

This collection brings out the more colorful of the 19th century textiles. The basis of these colors used as a textile dye goes back to as early as 1500 B.C. where the roots of the Madder Rubia were cultivated as dyestuff. In 1804, an English dyemaker, George Field, refined the use of the madder root. It now had a longer-lasting color and could be used in paint as well as textiles. The Turkey Red color was also derived from the root. It is thought to have been established in Glasgow, Scotland and became an export item shipped to colonists and traders.