Name: chris
Message: I am very interested in tie and dye and have previously been using vat dyes and hydros. Would you know anyone who can supply these in small quantities?

In the US, a good source for vat dyes is PRO Chemical & Dye. (They do ship internationally.) In Europe, you can order Indanthrene vat dyes from Granat Farvekompagniet in Denmark. (They speak English.)

Hydros is presumably sodium hydrosulfite, Na2O4S2, also known as sodium dithionite. Vat dye recipes generally call for lye (sodium hydroxide) and either sodium hydrosulfite, thiourea dioxide, or another sulfur-containing reducing agent. Lye, also known as caustic soda, is often used for clearing clogged drains. Sodium hydrosulfite is found in Rit Color Remover, is also available at photography supply shop for use in developing film, and is sold by Granat Farvekompagniet as sodium dithionite. Thiourea dioxide is sold by dye suppliers such as Fibercrafts in the UK, under the name of Spectralite.

Most tie-dyers prefer to use fiber reactive dyes, such as Procion MX dye, due to their much greater ease of use and the relative non-toxicity of the chemicals used with them (washing soda and urea). This type of dye is readily available by mail-order from most dye suppliers, including several in the UK. Check under "Europe" on my page of Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World. Good sources in the UK include Fibrecrafts, Kemtex, Omega Dyes, and Rainbow Silks.

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