Catechu is widely used as in natural dyeing as well as in various medicines and tannage. This study investigated the dyeing properties and functionality of Catechu through a series of dyeing experiments using cotton fabric. It was shown that the absorbance of Catechu solution has two peaks at 220nm and 280nm. Thus, it can be concluded that the color constituent of Catechu is a catechol tannin and color tone is YR. The dyeability of Catechu increases as the concentration of the dye is increased. Its variation was shown to be similar to the isothermal absorption curve of the Freundlich. As dyeing time was increases, the dyeability did not change significantly after the 30 minute mark was passed. At high temperatures the dyeability was shown to increase. As the dyeing temperature was increased the color of dyeing fabrics changes from Y and YR to R. Experiments with pre-mordanting method showed that various colors can be obtained using Catechu. Cotton is effective in using K, Cu, Fe mordants, and the dyeability was shown to be improved with low pH. Both washing fastness and light fastness were shown to be low. However, the fabric color gradually changed to red was due to mailard reaction of catechol tannin causing by repeated washing and sunlight. The ultraviolet-cut ability was improved for cotton fabric dyed with Catechu. Also, dyed fabric with Catechu showed very good antimicrobial abilities at 99.9%.