Onion Skins (Dried)

We sell onion skins as a dye material because not everyone eats onions. Our skins come from locally grown onions: farmers and market sellers separate the outer layers for us, we check that the peels are thoroughly dry and clean, and package them here at Themazi.

Onion skin (Allium cepa L.) comes from a bulbous plant. As onions become fully grown, the foliage dies back and the outer layers of the bulbs turn crispy and papery. These peels are what is used as a natural dye. Onion is one of the easiest dyestuffs to use because it does not require a mordant and can safely be used in your kitchen.

What colors does onion skin dye give?

Yellow and orange/brown shades, and soft olive greens with the addition of iron.

Do you need a mordant for onion skin dye?

No. A mordant isn't required, particularly when working with cellulose fibers like cotton or linen.

How to dye with onion skins

1. Make sure your fiber or fabric has been properly scoured.
2. Use two good handfuls of onion skins to make a dyebath. A small amount of skins can give strong color; the depth of shade depends on the amount of dye, the fiber type and the dyeing method.
3. Place the skins in a pan and cover with enough water so your fabric can move around easily for even dye uptake.
4. Bring the dyebath to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the skins if you wish.
5. Add your wet or damp fibers and simmer for another half hour. Let the dyebath cool for several hours or overnight, stirring occasionally.

A second and later use of the dyebath gives paler shades. Simply reheat the bath and add more fibers.

For soft olive green, briefly dip the dyed fibers into an iron solution and rinse thoroughly afterwards. You can make the iron solution from iron sulfate or from rusty metal soaked in 50:50 water for a week or so.

You can also watch our friend Billynou dyeing with onion skins.

Buying onion skins in bulk

Themazi sources onion peel in Turkey and offers it wholesale. The minimum order for wholesale onion peel is 10 kg. For wholesale inquiries and price offers, please contact us.