Abstract: This article discusses the more useful instrumental methods for the analysis and identification of natural (non-synthetic) dyes in textiles, specifically so-called invasive methods that require removal of a sample from the textile or other object, and the non-invasive ones that do not. The invasive methods usually include a separation step, primarily using high-performance liquid chromatography and provide much more information about the dyes than do non-invasive ones. On the other hand, instrumentation for some non-invasive methods is significantly less expensive and gives fast results, without altering the object. A third category that can be called minimally invasive shares advantages and disadvantages of the previous two. Also discussed are the classes of dyestuffs used for dyeing different colors, along with specific examples, and how identification of them can give clues as to the site of production of the textile.