Historically, Kathai colours came from natural sources: avaram (Cassia auriculata) for yellow, indigofera for blue, pomegranate rind for greenish-brown, and catechu for khaki. However, with the arrival of cheap aniline dyes in the mid-20th century, older Kathai pieces took on a distinctive . Industrial colours faded unevenly, producing a watercolour effect—what Japanese wabi-sabi would call sabi (the beauty of rust and age). This accidental fading became a signature: the mazhai vetta (rain-washed) look of Kathai Colour.
In psychology, it represents comfort, reliability, and a grounding connection to nature. Kathai in Modern Fashion kathai colour