themazi

We are a small family-run business, established in the 1950s and based in the east of Turkey. We produce a range of natural dye and tannin sources, all grown and harvested nearby by local workers. All our products are from sustainable sources, grown locally and indigenous to the area. Our products are environmentally friendly, as our planting and harvesting methods take account of respect for the land and the ecology of the plants and insects around us. We work with local people to obtain our dyestuffs, to enable them to earn from the plants on their land and to protect these species.

Oak Gallnut was our first product. Our gallnuts are Quercus Infectoria, which have a higher tannin content than other oak galls. Tannin content is important because it helps produce brighter and more colorfast outcomes with natural dyes. Every summer we collect the gallnuts from our oak forests. The gallnuts are made by a type of wasp, and act as protection for the wasp larvae until they hatch, so it is important that we harvest at the right time of year to allow the life cycle of the wasp to be complete. To make doubly sure all the insects have left the galls, once picked, the gallnuts are left outside for at least two months before grinding and packaging.

As our business has developed, supplying natural dyers and botanical printers worldwide, we have added to our range of products, all of which are grown here and collected by locals. As well as powdered and whole oak gallnuts, we supply a number of other tannin sources such as sumac powder, acorn and red pine extract. Also grown locally are our dyes, including buckthorn, weld, safflower, walnut and pomegranate. We have added madder to our increasing range, grown and collected by local experts here in Anatolia, washed and powdered by us here at themazi.