Aranya Crafts Ltd in Khilkhet, Dhaka

To promote and popularise the use of natural dyes as widely as possible through information sharing, providing training on dye making and usage techniques, and development of products.

From the brink of extinction, Aranya has successfully revived natural dyes inBangladesh, developing a palette of 30 ecologically friendly, non-pollutant colours through decades of intensive research and development. Flowers, leaves, fruit, sawdust and extracts from the rich depository of dye plants in the country are used in conjunction with four mordants to ensure colourfastness.

Natural dyes, used singly or as compound colours, offer an unlimited range of shades and variations. Production techniques have been refined to maximise cost effectiveness, commercial viability, and colourfastness to compete successfully in the mainstream market both inBangladeshand abroad. Aranya is a successful fair trade organisation and a member of WFTO; it is also a member of the World Crafts Council.

With its outstanding designs and colours, Aranya has creatd a brand that is instantly recognisable. Apart from block print it uses a range of Asian craft techniques like tie-dye, folded shading and Shibori to extend its repertoire. Hand-dyed yarn in silk, cotton and blends is woven and embroidered in traditional saris, readywear, fabrics and accessories. Aranya’s special achievement has been its revival of traditional Jamdanis and Kanthas sourced from museum and personal collections, national and international.

Aranya’s primary objective has always been to build a strong domestic market and it

has operated accordingly over the last two decades.However, its unique colour palette

and designs has attracted export orders from prestigious stores likeLiberty,TheConran

Shop, Selfridges, Chandni Chowk, Habitat and others in theUKas well as specialized

retailers inGermany,Italy,France,JapanandKorea. It has also worked with

international designers like Nicole Farhi, Giorgio Armani, Jurgen Lehl, and a host of

young designers in theUS, Europe andJapan.


It is now essential for Aranya to expand its production capacity in order to sustain

the domestic and export market, without compromising on quality.


Initially inspired by the work of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay inIndia, Aranya’s efforts benefited from the support of Begum Sufia Kamal inBangladesh. Aranya has trained hundreds of artisans and craft organisations in natural dye techniques inBangladeshand abroad providing employment opportunities to thousands of craftspeople in the country. Today Aranya is acknowledged as one of the foremost experts in this Region.