Name: Melisssa

Message: Where can I get colour dye for cotton in Malaysia?

I'm sorry, but I have been unable to find local sources for textile dyes in Malaysia.

The best dyes for cotton are the fiber reactive dyes, such as Procion, Remazol, or Drimarene K. Another kind of dye, which does not resist washing as well, is direct dye; this dye may be available to home users when no other dye can be found. A third kind of dye for cotton is called napthol or azoic dye; I don't think it's suitable for home use.

One way to find a local source for dyes is to contact a large dye wholesaler and ask for the names of any retail establishments that buy dye from them in order to repackage it in quantities that are small enough for individuals. The closest contacts I can find for Dystar (maker of Remazol and Procion H-E fiber reactive dyes) are in Thailand and in Indonesia, as follows:

Another global source of dyes is Clariant (maker of Drimarene K fiber reactive dyes); here is a contact for them:

Huntsman Textile Effects (maker of Cibacron F fiber reactive dyes), can be contacted at the following addresses:

The above companies should be able to tell you what retailers they supply dye to in your area; you can then buy your dyes from the suggested retailers. In general the companies listed above have large minimum order sizes, perhaps 5 kilograms per dye color; be sure to ask whether they would be willing to sell you smaller quantities, such as half a kilo of each dye color you buy.

I know that Indonesia also certainly has companies that sell fiber reactive dyes, since these dyes are popular in the Batiks that they export, but I cannot tell you where they are.

Many people who cannot find a good dye supplier in their home countries mail-order from other countries. When ordering from a foreign country, you will need to enquire by phone or possibly email to find out how much the cheapest form of shipping will cost. Often the online ordering systems quote the costs only for a very fast form of shipping, which causes shipping costs to be prohibitively expensive, but if you select a slower delivery method, the prices become quite reasonable. In some cases, international shipping is cheaper for an individual than buying dyes locally.

Your first question to an international dye supplier will always concern whether they will ship to your country. Unfortunately, Dharma Trading Company, in the US, does not currently ship to Malaysia. I know that PRO Chemical & Dye, also in the US, ships internationally to many countries; like Dharma, they have much lower prices, for the small quantities an individual can use, than dye suppliers in most countries, even after the cost of a relatively slow form of international shipping is added. If you look at my page, "Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World", you will find contacts for the above retailers, as well as a couple of mail-order sources in Australia, and you should also consider European sources.

Please let me know if you find a good local source for textile dyes, because this question comes up regularly.

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