Table 6.

Natural textile dyeing levels and features.

Feature/Level	Handcraft level	Lab/Studio level	Small business level	Industrial Level
How	Simple equipment and consumer chemicals (e.g., pots, gas cookers, home washer and dryer, vinegar, backing soda)	Lab size equipment and some chemicals (e.g., dyeing kier, lab dyeing machinery, water bath, pH meter, acetic acid, mordants)	Small to mid-size specialized equipment and chemicals (e.g., Kettles, Boiling Can, Centrifugal Drier, Heat Pump, ventilation)	Mid to Large Scale industrial Equipment/Machinery with automatic control/digital communication; bulk industrial chemicals
Where	Home (kitchen or garage)	studio or laboratory	conventional dyeing mill with workshops	Modern dyeing mill
What	Mianly natural protein fibers (e.g., wool and silk, as they are easy to dye)	Limited dyeing possibility. Can dye natural protein and cellulosic fibers, (e.g., silk, wool, cotton, flax). The quantity and color quality could not be guaranteed fully.		Various materials of natural or synthetic fibers/material (e.g., wool, silk, cotton, linen, hemp, leather, accessories made of horn, nutshells, mother-of-pearl)
Typical Products	Personal usage: T-shirt, scarves, pullovers, socks, etc.	Small batches of a commercial product of woven or knits etc. scarf, kids' wear; bedding, towels, napkins, socks, disposable wipes, carpets, Hair Dye, cosmetic, stationary.		Full spectrum of regular apparel or textiles, and other natural colorants applications