When I was in Kyoto I got to visit a family of Indigo farmers and Dyers. What is absolutely mesmerizing was the techniques of storing the tiny buds of the indigo plants and then transforming it into a blue dye called indigo that they then use to dye both fabrics and handmade papers. The cloth comes out this rather grey color , but then when they wring out the dye with these poles it is set with the dye that is stronger and more permanent than any other type of blue dye. They showed us shirts and jackets with indigo dye that looked totally saturated and as if it had been dyed last week although it was at least 50 years old. The indigo plant buds are basically stored in damp and dark storage facilities and then they are mixed with water and set into these dye vats into the cement floor. I have quite a bit of the indigo dyed cloth and find it quite beautiful to work with.
Hi Barb, what wonderful photographs! For a brief time long ago I worked with natural indigo dyes, and there is nothing like that color, so satisfying. And so amazing that it changes color as it comes out of the dye vat. I love this scene of the stone vats, and I feel envious that you got to go there. Thanks for leaving me a comment also, and best wishes.
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