Haule, LiberatoNambela, LutamyoSamwel, Justine2017-05-102017-05-102016-09-01http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/4526The application of synthetic dyes has been questioned due to the associated negative impact of the chemicals used during dye manufacturing of the dyes. Scientists are searching for an alternative source of textile dyes whose sustainability is potentially better that the traditional synthetic dyes. Dyes from plants are have previously been researched and a dominant category of such dyes is the indigo dyes mainly used for dyeing of denim jeans. In Tanzania some entrepreneurs have successfully managed to extract dyes form dry leaves of certain plants and such dyes are used for the “tie –and dye” of cotton fabrics. While the chemical nature of such dyes remains the secret of the inventor, the chemical environment of the dye when applied in cotton fabric is yet established. In this paper the surface of cotton fabric dyed with locally manufactured dye were characterised by the use of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) in order to understand the performance of the locally manufactured natural dyesencottonFTIRnatural dyeConference Proceedings