Representation of Screen Marbling Techniques with Reactive and Vat Dyes Combination on Textiles and Fashion Design Products for the Ghanaian Market

Bernard Edem Dzramedo ,Robert Ahiabor

doi:10.7176/ads/80-05

Abstract

Textile products are not only patronised for their functionality and communicative purposes, but equally for their aesthetics. Marbling has been a cherished art for centuries with attractive and intricate designs used for decorative purposes. The study explores the possibility of transferring marbling designs using reactive and vat dyes combination through screen printing method to produce fabrics that can be fashioned into garments and accessories. The study employed both descriptive and experimental methods to assess market trends of existing fabric designs in selected markets in the country and then produce marbling effects using vat and reactive dyes to popularise the art for everyday usage in fabric, garments and accessories. Mercerized cotton was used as based material for the printing processes which were fashioned into garments and accessories. The market survey on existing fabric designs revealed non-availability of designs reflecting the silk screen marbling effects using vat dyes as print paste on reactive dyed backgrounds in the Ghanaian market, hence paving the way for the experiment to that effect. The results from the experiment established that the fluidity of the marbling designs with its colour integration in aesthetic manner makes it favourable to compete in the fabric market. This, the researchers believed forms the basis for more further study in exploring related arts as means of expanding creativity and creating jobs for the youth. The recommendation was mainly on further study to improve on colour matching techniques for enhanced and varied outcomes. Keywords: Aesthetics, Marbling techniques, African prints, Vat and Reactive Dyes DOI: 10.7176/ADS/80-05 Publication date: January 31st 2020

Highlights

Marbling dated years back into history and covers the art of bookbinding, wall paper decorating piece lamp shades and gift wrappers among others
The main fabric markets in these cities were visited to assess the types of African prints available with similarities to marbling fabrics based on fluidity of designs and printing methods used
The experimental research method on the other hand was employed to find the possibility of producing attractive user friendly fabrics using vat dyes as print paste in the presence of locally prepared thickening agents to discharge on reactive dyed fabric using hand screen printing method

Summary

Introduction

Marbling dated years back into history and covers the art of bookbinding, wall paper decorating piece lamp shades and gift wrappers among others. The art of marbling was an essential part of bookbinding and a secret held tradition within family practitioners till the mid-20th century (Galen, 2015). This art is not popular in the field of fabric production generally and in Ghana, evidence of its use exist in local fabric works in two forms using paper marbling technique and tie-dye marbling techniques (Howard, 2013). Marbling techniques in screen printing process will encourage the reproduction of designs when the need be which is a difficult process to get if not impossible with the other forms of marbling techniques This screen printing technique is to be explored using vat as print paste on reactive dyed backgrounds. Its intention is to provide avenue for new exploit in this direction for the local textile industry. Humphries (2004) defines printing as the application of a design, whether coloured or not, using dyes, pigment, usually in a thick paste, bound to the surface of a fabric or other substances. Tortora and Phyllis (2007) contend that printing is the application of colourants in definite, repeated patterns to fabric, yarn or sliver by any one of a number of methods other than dyeing

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