COLORED FABRIC DYE FROM GUMAMELA (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.
) LEAVES EXTRACT
An investigatory project submitted by Daniela Marie S. Fernandez of San Jacinto National High School
I. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A Dye is a colored substance that has an
affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied.
The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution,
and many require a mordant to improve the fastness
of the dye in the fiber. Both dyes and pigments are
colored because they absorb some wavelengths of
light more than others. In contrast to dyes, pigments
are insoluble and have no affinity for the substrate.
Dyed flax fibers have been found in the
Republic of George. The dyes were obtained from
animal, vegetable or mineral origin, with none to
very little processing. By far the greatest source of
dyes has been from the plant kingdom.
Primitive dyeing techniques included
sticking plants to fabric or rubbing crushed pigments
into cloth. The methods became more sophisticated
with time and techniques using natural dyes from
crushed fruits, berries and other plants, which were
boiled into the fabric and gave light and water
fastness (resistance), were developed.
Natural dyes can be used on most types of
material or fiber but the level of success in terms of
fastness and clarity of color varies considerably.
Users of natural dyes, however, tend to also use
natural fibers, and so we will look in more detail at
this group. Natural fibers come mainly from two
distinct origins, animal origin or vegetable origin.
Fibers from an animal origin include wool, silk,
mohair and alpaca, as well as some others which are
less well known. All animal fibers are based on
proteins. Natural dyes have a strong affinity to fibers
of animal origin, especially wool, silk and mohair
and the results with these fibers are usually good.
Fibers of plant origin include cotton, flax or linen,
ramie, jute, hemp and many others. Plant fibers have
cellulose as their basic ingredient. Natural dyeing of
certain plant based textiles can be less successful than
their animal equivalent. Different mordanting
techniques are called for with each category. When a
blend of fiber of both animal and plant origin is being
dyed, then a recipe should be chosen which will
accentuate the fiber which is required to be dominant.
B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study aimed to determine if the
Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.) Leaves
Extract could be developed as a colored fabric dye.
Specifically, this study sought to answer the
following questions.
1. Can Gumamela Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn.) Leaves Extract be developed
as a colored fabric dye?
2. What is the level of Acceptability of
Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.)
Leaves Extract as a colored fabric dye in
terms of:
a. Color
b. Texture
c. Odor
3. Is there a significant difference between the
Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.)
Leaves Extract as a colored fabric dye and
the commercially available in terms of:
a. Color Fastness
b. Color
c. Texture
d. Odor
e.
C.HYPOTHESIS
There is no significant difference between
the Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.) leaves
extract as a colored fabric dye and the commercially
available fabric dye.
D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
First, this study will benefit the consumers.
This study will help them to be knowledgeable in
producing a fabric dye from Gumamela.
Lastly, this study will be useful to the future
researchers who intended to conduct a similar study,
because it will serve as their information. They can
also use this as their pattern and guide in doing their
own research.
E. SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS
This study will focus in determining if the
Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.) leaves
extract could be developed as a colored fabric dye.
F. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
Gumamela is a genus in flowering plants in the
 Mallow family. The followers are large,
conspicuous, and trumpet-shaped, with five
or more petals.
Leaves Extract- this refers to the extract that would
be obtained on the Gumamela Leaves that
will be use as a fabric dye.
Dye- this refers to a colored substance that has
Affinity to the substrate to which it is being
Applied.
II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Gumamela
Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in
the mallow family, Malvaceae. The genus is a quite
large, comprising several hundred species that are
native to warm-temperature, subtropical and tropical
regions through- out the world. The leaves are
alternate, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or
lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous,
trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, color from
white to pink, red, orange, peach, yellow or purple,
and from 4-18 cm broad.
In the Philippines, the Gumamela is used by
children as part of a bubble-making pastime. The
flowers and leaves are crushed until the sticky juices
come out. Hibiscus is a very hardy, versatile plant
and in tropical conditions it can enhance the beauty
of any garden.
In the Philippines, flower buds, beaten to a
paste, applied as poultice to boils, cancerous
swellings and mumps.
Dye
A dye is a colored substance that has an
affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied.
The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution,
and may require a mordant to improve the fastness of
the dye on the fiber.
RELATED STUDIES
In a study by Nicholas Malensek (2014)
entitled Color Fastness Properties of Permission
Dye on Cotton and Wool Substrate. This study
investigated persimmon dyes performance on cotton
and wool fabric. Color strength and appearance of
dyed cotton and wool fabrics at various dyeing
conditions (mordanting order, dye concentration, and
dyeing time length) were evaluated. Color strength
on dyed cotton and wool increased with increased
dye concentration and dyeing time. In this study,
post-mordanting, 200% dye concentration, and 60
minutes dyeing length yielded the highest color
strength for cotton and wool. Cotton samples
received a 2-3 to 4 shade changes rating, while wool
received a 3-4 depending on the test.
In a study by D.A.G. Wanyama, et.al.
(2014) entitled Extraction, characterization and
application of natural dyes from selected plants in
Uganda for dyeing of cotton Fabrics. Cotton fabrics
were dyed with natural dyes derived. From the crude
bark extracts of Albizia Coriaria, Morinda Lucida,
Syzgium cordatum, and Vitellera paradoxa dye.
Yielding plants from Mukono and Mbale districts of
Uganda. Color fastness properties to light and
washing were good, between 3 and 4, suitable for
textile application.
The study of Maria C. Langton (2012) was
about the Spectrometer Analysis of Dyeing
Behavior or Cotton and Polyester Fabric using direct,
reactive, and disperse dyes. This study focuses on
the use of three different types of dye, disperse,
reactive and direct, on two most commonly used
fabrics, cotton and polyester. The fabrics will go
under testing to see how much dye is released into
the wash by looking at the L, A, B, values from the
CIELAB spectrometer. The methods done in the
study will conclude if the tested fabric absorbs the
dyes, making the textiles marketable.
The purpose of Saminathan Ratnapandian
(2013) study entitled Application of Natural Dyes
by Padding Techniques on Textiles. Was to present
the findings from investigations into adapting the
pad-dyeing process for dyeing cotton and wool
employing current and emerging technologies of
textile coloration. The scope of this research was to
add to the knowledge regarding continuous dyeing
methods for natural dyes with an ultimate goal of
large-scale sustainable coloration.
In a study by Md. Rabiul Islam Khan (2012)
entitled Study on Effect on Concentration of Soda
on Dyeing of Woven Cotton fabric with reactive
dyes. The aim of this work is to observe the effect of
dyed sample when we change the concentration of
soda in the solution.
 III. METHODOLOGY

A. Materials
The investigation will use the following materials
and instruments in the study. Cloth, pot, strainer, color
fixative bath such as salt water or a vinegar bath,
rubber gloves, small saucepan, containers, cups, and
mordant (iron ferrous sulfate).

B. General Procedure
The Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.)
will be gathered at Imelda, San Jacinto, Pangasinan.

Collect your plant materials when they are at their

peak of color. Flowers should be fresh. Chop all plant
materials into small pieces (inch or smaller) and
place them into a large pot or pan that you are willing
to sacrifice to the cloth dyeing craft. Measure the
amount of plant material and place twice as much as
water as plant material into the pot with the plant
material. Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer
it, stirring occasionally, for at least an hour. Strain
out the plant material and set the dye bath aside.
Place your fabric into a color fixative bath such as
salt water (1 part salt to 16 parts water) or a vinegar
bath. Allow the fabric to absorb the color fixative
mix and simmer it for an hour. Place the wet fabric
into the dye mixture and simmer it until the desired
color is achieved.

C. Research Design
This study will employ the Randomized Complete
block Design (RCBD) of the experimental research.
The respondents of the study (15) and the students
from the San Jacinto National High School.

D. Research Instrument
The researcher will formulate a questionnaire in
order to determine the level of Acceptability of
Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.) as a colored
fabric dye with 5 classifications, 5 Very Highly
Acceptable (VHA), 4 Highly Acceptable (HA), 3
Moderately Acceptable (MA), 2 Acceptable (A), 1 Not
Acceptable (NA).

Statistical Treatment
This study will use the Average Weighted
Mean as the statistical Tool Applied in treating the
gathered data.