Also known as garance (French), Krapp (German), meekrap (Dutch), robbia (Italian), rubia or grana rubia (Spanish), fuwwah (Arabic), kök boya – “root dye” (Turkish), and ronās (Persian).

Madder is one of the world’s oldest and most important red dyestuffs, valued since antiquity for producing lasting, vibrant reds. Our Rubia tinctorum comes from Anatolia, grown, harvested, and processed to the highest standards. Finely ground for professional use, this premium-grade madder has a high alizarin content, yielding deep, rich shades of red on protein fibres.

Historical Note
Madder has been cultivated and traded for thousands of years, with evidence of its use in ancient Egypt, Rome, and throughout medieval Europe. By the 18th century, madder was at the heart of the famous Turkey Red process, prized for its brilliance and permanence. Today, it remains a cornerstone of the natural dyer’s palette.

Active Coloring Compounds

• Anthraquinones, primarily alizarin and purpurin.

CI Colour Name
CI Natural Red 9

Shading Tips

• Alum mordant → deep, brilliant reds
• Exhaust baths → turkey red, mulberry, orange-red, terracotta
• Overdye with indigo → near-black, deep purples, crimson
• Modifiers: iron → deeper, browner reds; alum + cream of tartar → clear, bright reds

Extra Notes

• Leftover madder baths can be used to feed an organic indigo vat.
• Madder is a renewable resource with a positive CO₂ footprint.
• Source
  Premium Anatolian madder root, sustainably grown and processed.