The textile coloration industry often discharges dye-rich effluents that pose both environmental and health risks. To address these risks, research on the use of bio-based dyes is ongoing. This study reports on the sustainable extraction and dyeing of cotton fabric using an extract from Camellia sinensis (Tea) leaves waste. The dyeing process utilized infrared (IR) dyeing, which reduces water consumption in the dye solution and uses heat for dye fixation instead of electrolytes, thereby contributing to sustainable dyeing. The optimal dyeing process was carried out at 60 °C for 60 min, both with and without mordants. Tannic acid, aluminium potassium sulphate (alum) and ferrous sulphate were selected as affordable and less toxic mordant. The unmordanted sample exhibited the highest colour strength (K/S = 29.85), while while ferrous sulphate mordanted sample confers the best color fastness overall. Mechanical analysis indicated an increase in bursting strength of 27% in the unmordanted dyed fabric compared with the raw fabric, along with improved drapability, while air permeability decreased by 6.8%. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image confirms the dye particles within the cotton fabric, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirms the presence of polyphenolic and aromatic groups responsible for dye-fiber interaction.