Flower of opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear) cactus crop for cochineal production, Mala, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

Black-footed ferret (American polecat) (Mustela nigripes) with a hair-dye marker to indicate that it was treated by the wildlife biologist, Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Conata Basin, South Dakota, United States of America, North America

Giant sponge showing how it filters water with the use of dye, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant sponge showing how it filters water with the use of dye, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant sponge showing how it filters water with the use of dye, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Giant sponge showing how it filters water with the use of dye, Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Pads of cactus used to raise the cochineal beetle for making red dye, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Balls of wool with bark and herbs as natural dye, Chinchero, Sacred Valley, Peru, South America

Feet fulling of cloth in the dyeing process, Kidang Mas Batik House, Lasem, Java island, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Feet fulling of cloth in the dyeing process, Kidang Mas Batik House, Lasem, Java island, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Lurik House workshop using eco-printing technique, using sap from teak leaves as natural dyes, and at the same time creating the motif, Dien by Dinar, contemporary batik, Sondakan district, Solo (Surakarta), Java island, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Brown balls of wool and dried leaves as natural dye, Chinchero, Sacred Valley, Urubamba Province, Cusco (Cuzco) Region, Peru, South America

A woman, Aboriginal elder, stirring pandanus for weaving baskets, Nyinyikay Homeland, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, Pacific

Aboriginal Yolngu elder stirs freshly dyed pandanus fronds to be used for basket making at Nyinyikay Homeland, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, Pacific

Hindu bell in temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Vishnu shrines with offering placed, Tiruchirappali, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Vishnu shrines with offering placed, Tiruchirappali, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Vishnu shrines with offering placed, Tiruchirappali, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Maggots for fishing bait, bred on maggot farm, dyed yellow by dye added to offal feed, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Cactus used to raise the Cochineal beetle for making red dye, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Pad of cactus used to raise the Cochineal beetle for making red dye, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Infested pads of cactus used to raise the Cochineal beetle for making red dye, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Mexican aztec dress gods at Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Caribbean Coast, Mexico. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the people were surprised to see them in their full armour, with only their faces exposed. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton (which was imported) or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus (also called the Century Plant or American Aloe). Women would weave the fibers into clothing, a task girls were taught as young teenagers. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant

Mexican aztec dress gods at Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Caribbean Coast, Mexico. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the people were surprised to see them in their full armour, with only their faces exposed. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton (which was imported) or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus (also called the Century Plant or American Aloe). Women would weave the fibers into clothing, a task girls were taught as young teenagers. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant

Zebra

Zebra

Japanese cranes

Sheep

Japanese woman holding a veil in the wind by the beach

Cherry blossoms

Drift Ice, Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan

Oita Prefecture, Japan

Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

Moon over North-West Coast, Flakstad, Lofotes, Norway

Cactus field for breeding lice for natural dyes in Guatiza, prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Cactus field for breeding lice for natural dyes in Guatiza, prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Wind mill, cactus field for breeding lice for natural dyes in Guatiza, prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Aerial view of TexasGulf Potash Ponds which are solar evaporation ponds used in the process of mining potash. Potash, a water-soluble potassium salt is extracted and blue dye is added to increase the rate of evaporation. It is mainly used in fertilizer products but also in the making of soap, glass, ceramics and batteries. The mine is currently owned and operated by Intredpid Potash Inc and the ponds cover 400 acres of land surrounded by sandstone cliffs and wilderness near Moab, Utah, USA, Utah, United States of America

Hawaii, Hawaiian tapa cloth closeup of pattern, detail

Traditional Polynesian tapa, hand printed paper bark cloth.

Traditional Polynesian tapa, hand printed paper bark cloth.