Wattle Extract

Description

Wattle is a member of the Acacia family. People use it extensively in leather tanning as it works very well for even coverage and penetration of skins and pelts for tanning. Australia, South Africa and India grow most wattle. They most commonly extract the Black Wattle to create the dye.

Natural dyers use wattle extract as one of the rich tannins to create iron-based grays and blacks or to overdye with indigo to create interesting muted greens. The color is a beige with a pink cast. Additionally, it has a characteristic toasty wood smell. For more information on how to use it, please see our page on natural dye extracts.

From our Feedback Friday series:

What color does wattle make?

I have to admit that I was a total snob about wattle for a long time because it’s a rather modest dye and my natural dye upbringing was heavy on cochineal and logwood. So it’s taken me awhile to explore it. I am really impressed with how it performs with some beautiful warm rose shades. Along with a lovely lavender-gray and a dark nutmeg shade. Wattle is also called Black Acacia and is native to Australia and Tasmania.

It is used largely in the leather industry as it’s full of tannins. I’m including a few recipes to try it – we were so pleased with its results. Higher percentages of iron will darken the shade to a medium gray and combinations with small amounts of madder or lac will yield beautiful mid-tone peachy coral and deep rose shades. Mordant cellulose fibers with aluminum acetate and wheat bran or calcium and protein fibers with aluminum sulfate.