The history of dyeing

The history of dyeing is divided by the date 1856, the year in which Perkin discovered Mauveine. During this first period, lasting many thousands of years, all the dyes used – either mineral or vegetable – came from natural resources.

Henry IV granted the first charter of incorporation to the Worshipful Company of Dyers. Under this charter the freemen of the company were permitted to exercise the art of dyeing only in London and within ten miles of its centre. The company maintained a strict level of standards. Other centres of the world for the dye trade at this time were Constantinople and Venice.