Indigo & Buckthorn Bio-Ink

This textile features a sap green biobased ink formulated from two botanical pigment sources and applied through screen printing on linen fabric. It demonstrates the potential of plant-derived colorants as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textile inks.

The ink combines pigment extracted from Japanese Indigo leaves (Persicaria tinctoria) and Buckthorn seeds (Rhamnus petiolaris). These natural colorants are processed and blended with bio-based binding agents to create a screen-printable formulation compatible with natural fibres.

The resulting hue is a vibrant sap green with subtle tonal variation that reflects the organic origin of the pigments. When printed onto linen, the ink integrates with the textile surface, allowing the structure and texture of the fibers to remain visible. The finish is breathable and tactile, maintaining the material quality of the fabric.

By replacing petrochemical-based pigments with renewable plant sources, this bio-ink offers a more environmentally responsible approach to textile coloration while remaining suitable for contemporary screen-printing applications.