Effective　fractionation　of　dyes　and　salts　(NaCl)　potentially　paves　a　new　path　to　sustainable　treatment　of　textile　wastewater.　Herein,　a　loose　nanofiltration　(NF)　membrane　was　innovatively　used　as　the　anion　conductive　membrane　in　electrodialysis　(ED)　for　dye　and　salt　separation.　The　NF　membrane　with　a　molecular　weight　cut-off　of　678　Da　showed　a　sufficient　retention　for　reactive　dyes　with　small　molecular　weights　(−),　as　its　loose　surface　structure　created　extra　nano-channels　for　ion　transfer.　The　anion　conductive　loose　NF　membrane　based　ED　process　yielded　excellent　separation　performance　in　a　one-step　dye/NaCl　fractionation.　Specifically,　a　98.9%　desalination　efficiency　was　obtained　by　the　loose　NF-based　ED　process　along　with　99.4%　dye　recovery.　Additionally,　an　extremely　low　fouling　propensity　was　observed　during　a　5-cycle　ED　operation,　as　the　negative　surface　charge　of　the　loose　NF　membrane　served　as　an　intrinsic　barrier　to　prevent　the　dye　species　from　entering　the　membrane　pores　through　electrostatic　repulsion.　This　study　demonstrated　a　desirable　potential　of　loose　NF　membranes　as　anion　conductive　membranes　in　ED　for　resource　recovery　from　highly-saline　wastewater.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.