Isatis tinctoria
Throughout history, people have dyed their textiles using common, locally available materials, but scarce dyestuffs that produced brilliant and permanent colors such as the natural invertebrate dyes, Tyrian purple and crimson kermes, became highly prized luxury items in the ancient and medieval world. Plant-based dyes such as woad ("Isatis tinctoria"), indigo, saffron, and madder were raised commercially and were important trade goods in the economies of Asia, Africa and Europe. Across Asia and Africa and the Americas, patterned fabrics were produced using resist dyeing techniques to control the absorption of color in piece-dyed cloth. Dyes such as cochineal and logwood ("Haematoxylum campechianum") were brought to Europe by the Spanish treasure fleets, and the dyestuffs of Europe were carried by colonists to America.