RUBIA
Rubia® — AMA Herbal
Madder Dye for Fabric
& Textile Industry
Rubia® is a madder dye for fabric extracted from the roots and rhizomes of Rubia cordifolia (Indian madder). It produces red, pink, and orange shades on cotton, silk, wool, and natural fibre blends, and is manufactured in India for bulk supply to textile mills, dyeing houses, and garment processors.
Reading
Common NameIndian Madder / Manjistha
SourceRubia cordifolia
Shade RangeRed / Pink / Orange
Suitable forCotton, Silk, Wool
Overview
Rubia® — Plant-Based Madder Dye from Rubia cordifolia, for Industrial Textile Use
Natural Madder Dye for Cotton, Silk & Wool — Bulk Supply from India
AMA Herbal manufactures and exports natural textile dyes from Lucknow, India, and has been working with mills and dyeing houses since 1996. Rubia® is the company's madder dye for fabric, produced from the roots and rhizomes of Rubia cordifolia — Indian madder, known in traditional textile practice as Manjistha. Madder has historically been one of the main sources of red and pink in natural dyeing across South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Rubia® brings that same source material into an industrial format, processed consistently and available for bulk textile orders.
As a natural dye manufacturer in India, AMA Herbal processes each batch under controlled conditions and provides technical data sheets, shade references, and application guidance for dyeing houses evaluating Rubia® for the first time. For lac-based natural red, see Nimbus® — AMA Herbal's crimson and burgundy dye from Kerria lacca.
Textile mills and garment manufacturers sourcing natural madder dye for bulk production can contact AMA Herbal to request samples, application guidance, and bulk pricing. Small-batch lab sampling is available before mills commit to larger orders.
"Madder root dye has one of the longest records of use in textile production — across India, Persia, and Central Asia — because the shade range it offers is genuinely useful: red, pink, and orange from the same source, with mordant and process variation. Rubia® is our effort to make that source available consistently, at the scale that modern mills need, with documentation and technical support."
AMA Herbal — Natural Dye Manufacturer, India, since 1996Raw Material
Source: Rubia cordifolia — Indian Madder Root
Rubia® is extracted from the roots and rhizomes of Rubia cordifolia — Indian madder. The plant contains anthraquinone compounds, primarily alizarin and purpurin, which are the active colouring agents. These produce shades in the red, pink, and orange range on protein and cellulosic fibres. The exact shade direction depends on the mordant, pH of the dye bath, and the fibre being processed.
AMA Herbal sources Rubia cordifolia plant material and processes it through a consistent extraction and refining sequence. Each batch is checked for shade consistency before dispatch. Reference shade cards are available for mills running shade approvals or comparing batches across orders.
Plant-Based
No Synthetic Inputs
Biodegradable
Batch Traceable
Export Documentation Available
Shade Range
Red, Pink and Orange — Shade Direction on Cotton, Silk & Wool
Rubia® produces shades across the red, pink, and orange range. The final shade depends on the fibre, the mordant used, pH of the dye bath, and process temperatures. Alum mordanting typically moves the shade toward warmer red-orange; iron mordanting shifts toward deeper, cooler tones. Shade direction may vary based on fibre, mordant, pH, and process — lab trials are recommended before production runs.
| Fibre / Mordant | Shade Direction (Indicative) |
|---|---|
| Cotton + Alum | Warm orange-red; depth varies with tannin pre-treatment and mordant concentration |
| Cotton + Iron | Shifts toward deeper, duller red-brown; cooler undertone |
| Silk + Alum | Good affinity; bright red to coral-pink; stronger shade development than cotton |
| Wool + Alum | Deep orange-red to madder red; strong uptake; suitable for yarn dyeing |
| Wool + Iron | Darker, more muted red-brown; sadder tone; often used for overdyeing |
| Natural fibre blends | Shade depends on natural fibre content; evaluation recommended before production runs |
Rubia® — Shade Range (Indicative)
Applications
Suitable Fibres — Cotton, Silk, Wool and Natural Blends
Rubia® works with the main natural and protein fibres used in textile production. It is compatible with standard industrial dyeing equipment and does not require processes outside of what mills already use for other natural dyes. Application guidance and process sheets are available on request.
| Fibre / Substrate | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cotton | Suitable with mordanting; tannin pre-treatment improves dye uptake; shade depth depends on mordant and process conditions |
| Silk | Good affinity; red, coral, and pink shades achievable; stronger depth than cotton with same dye concentration |
| Wool | Strong uptake; deep orange-red and madder red shades; suitable for yarn dyeing in hank form |
| Linen | Can be used with appropriate mordanting; results lighter than cotton; pre-treatment recommended |
| Natural fibre blends | Results depend on natural fibre content and blend ratio; evaluation on sample lengths is advised before committing to full production |
Process
Dyeing & Printing Methods — Rubia® is Compatible With
Rubia® can be used across the main textile application processes: garment dyeing, fabric dyeing, yarn dyeing, and fabric printing. Application guidance and process sheets are available on request.
- 01
Garment Dyeing
Used on finished cotton, silk, and wool garments to achieve red, coral, and terracotta shades. Suitable for both direct dyeing and over-dyeing of undyed or light-dyed goods.
- 02
Jigger & Fabric Dyeing
Applied to fabric in roll form on jigger machines. Consistent coverage across fabric widths; used for pre-production yardage dyeing and fabric finishing.
- 03
Yarn Dyeing (Hank Form)
Wool and cotton yarn dyed in hank form before weaving or knitting. Used by mills producing woven fabrics with natural-dyed yarn in stripe, check, or dobby constructions.
- 04
Fabric Printing
Suitable for flat screen and rotary printing. Also used in hand block printing and resist printing techniques for artisan and small-batch production runs.
Technical Notes
Technical Notes for Buyers
Mordant Dependency
Shade and fastness depend significantly on the mordant. Alum gives warmer shades; iron gives darker, more muted results. Mordant selection should be confirmed during lab trials, not assumed from shade references alone.
pH Sensitivity
The dye bath pH affects shade direction. Alkaline conditions can shift the colour toward pink; acidic conditions tend toward orange-red. pH should be monitored and controlled consistently across production batches.
No Synthetic Inputs
Rubia® is extracted entirely from Rubia cordifolia plant material. It does not contain synthetic carriers, azo compounds, or petrochemical fixing agents.
Batch Documentation
Each production batch is accompanied by a shade reference and technical data sheet. MSDS and export documentation are available for overseas buyers. Shade approval samples can be dispatched before bulk orders are confirmed.
Product Comparison
Difference Between Rubia® and Nimbus®
AMA Herbal produces two natural red dyes for fabric: Rubia® and Nimbus®. Both are available for evaluation and bulk supply, but they differ in source material, shade character, and fibre affinity. The table below outlines the main differences to help mills and sourcing teams identify which product is more suited to their requirements.
| Property | Rubia® | Nimbus® |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Rubia cordifolia (plant root) | Kerria lacca (insect resin) |
| Common name | Indian Madder / Manjistha | Lac Insect Stick |
| Shade range | Red, Pink, Orange | Crimson, Burgundy, Wine Red |
| Shade character | Warm; shifts with mordant and pH | Deeper red; less mordant-sensitive |
| Best fibre | Wool and silk; cotton with mordanting | Silk and wool; cotton with mordanting |
| Source type | Plant-based | Insect-based |
| Typical use | Red-pink-orange shade development | Crimson and deep red shade development |
Which to choose?
If the target shade is in the pink, coral, terracotta, or warm red range, Rubia® is the more appropriate starting point. If the target is crimson, burgundy, or deep wine red, Nimbus® is better suited. Both products can be requested as lab samples for evaluation before a buying decision is made.
Background
What is Madder Dye for Fabric?
Natural Madder Dye — a Brief Overview
Madder dye for fabric refers to a class of natural textile colorants derived from the roots of madder plants — primarily Rubia tinctorum (European madder) or Rubia cordifolia (Indian madder). The active colouring compounds are anthraquinones, mainly alizarin and purpurin, which bind to textile fibres with a mordant and produce shades across the red, pink, and orange spectrum. Madder has been used in textile production for several thousand years and is documented in dyed textiles from ancient Egypt, India, and Persia.
In contemporary textile production, natural madder dye is used by mills and garment manufacturers working to reduce synthetic dye inputs, meet eco-certification criteria, or respond to buyer requirements for plant-based colorants. It is considered one of the more reliable natural dyes for red and warm-toned shades on wool and silk. Results on cotton are achievable but require more careful mordanting and pre-treatment.
Rubia® is AMA Herbal's Rubia cordifolia-based natural madder dye, positioned for red, pink, and orange shade development. For lac-based red, see Nimbus® natural red dye. Both are available for evaluation and bulk supply from India.
Further Reading
Related AMA Herbal Pages
Natural Dye Manufacturer in India
Bulk natural textile dye manufacturer and exporter from India since 1996.
Read moreNimbus® Natural Red Dye
Lac-based natural red dye from Kerria lacca. Crimson and burgundy shades for cotton, silk and wool.
View productBio Indigo Natural Dye
Natural indigo dye for denim and textile mills, manufactured and exported by AMA Herbal.
View productWhat Are Natural Textile Dyes
An overview of natural textile dye sources, chemistry, and applications for mills and sourcing teams.
Read moreGarment Dyeing
Natural dye applications for garment dyeing using AMA Herbal's plant-based and botanical dyes.
View detailsContact AMA Herbal
Request samples, pricing, and technical details for Rubia® or any other AMA Herbal natural dye.
Get in touchSource Rubia® Madder Dye for Your Textile Business
AMA Herbal supplies Rubia® to textile mills, dyeing houses, garment manufacturers, and fabric processors. The team can assist with lab sampling, shade development, bulk pricing, and export arrangements. Use the contact form or WhatsApp to get in touch directly.