Deki Natural Dyes Tales
Deki Natural Dyes is a family business that was formally established in 2011, located at Changzamtok, CSI Throm and it holds a rich legacy spanning three generations. Tshering Choden, who had a postgraduate in education from Samtse College of Education is the current owner of the family business, she took over the reins from her mother.
Deki Natural Dyes is a social enterprise that specializes in natural dyes, organic yarns, traditional wear, and home decor. She is deeply interested in preserving Bhutanese traditional culture and its techniques. She recognizes the significance of natural dye extraction and weaving in Bhutanese heritage. She said, “Our products are biodegradable, durable, clean, and healthier for the human body and the environment, the project also reinvigorates the dying culture of home-based traditional organic yarn production and weaving.”
Despite all the choices in life Tshering chose to take up the family business, “Wanting to make change for self and others and live a healthy lifestyle by rejecting the fast fashion and replacing it with eco-friendly wears are the main inspiration for me,” Tshering added. Deki Natural Dyes Tales.
The products of Deki Natural Dyes are woven by her community but Tshering and her mother do natural dying and designing. Their objectives are to empower rural and economically disadvantaged communities through improved economic standings, conserving traditional and indigenous knowledge and arts to promote eco-tourism. Further, by building the capacity of local communities in sustainable harvesting, storing, and packaging of organic fibers and dyeing materials.
Tshering Choden shared that they are committed to advancing the science of extracting natural dyes from plants and vegetable waste. “Our goal is to raise awareness about the benefits of natural dyes in the textile industry, promoting their use and thereby contributing to a more environmentally friendly and socially responsible approach to textile production.”
“One of the biggest challenges is not having an entrepreneur-friendly ecosystem in Bhutan, we somehow paved the way to where we are today as we did not leave any opportunity to become the one we are today but given the chance to grow today I will depend on a good and clear entrepreneurial ecosystem,” she added.
Their products are not only popular in the country but also in the outside world. Currently, they export to the EU, Japan, China, and the USA. They aspire to make a lasting impact and to popularize the sustainable production of fibers, yarns, fabrics, and garments using natural dyes, adhering to the principles of zero waste. Tshering strives not only to keep these traditions alive but also to pass down the art and science of extracting natural dyes and dyeing yarns and fabrics to the next generation.
Deki Natural Dyes received the award for the 2022 National Energy Globe award from the independent Energy Globe Foundation based in Austria. The award presented among 180 countries, recognized the project as one of the 2,500 initiatives dedicated to environmental protection. Out of six categories, the project named ‘sustainable E-wears’ by Deki Natural Dyes emerged as a victory in the ‘World Award for Sustainability’ category.
Meanwhile, Tshering shared that in the next 5 years, she sees her business as in online platform, reaching international markets and developing standards for Bhutanese textiles and Deki Natural Dyes as the Pioneer of eco-friendly Bhutanese textiles. Further, her long-term vision is to help, mentor, and create more green entrepreneurs and to create an ecosystem for entrepreneurs, especially women, to realize their dreams.
On her final notes to aspiring entrepreneurs, “I would like to say that embrace every mistake, problem and loss because nothing comes for free and who knows it better than an entrepreneur. Fighting it through and manifesting yourself with the right intention and attention is what we all need to fight to become successful.”
In a world increasingly attuned to the environmental impact of consumer choices, Deki natural dyes serve as a beacon of hope and possibility. Her journey inspires others to consider the profound beauty that lies in the simplicity of natural dyes, encouraging a shift towards a more sustainable and mindful approach to textile creation.
By Rinzin Dema
