Indigo Dye

Description

Indigo Dye is one of the most iconic and enduring natural colorants in human history. Made from the fermented leaves of Indigofera tinctoria, this deep blue dye works in a way unlike most others. Indigo needs no mordant. Instead, it is reduced in an alkaline vat, absorbed by the fiber, and turns blue as it oxidizes in the air. The result is a brilliant, cool toned blue that deepens with each dip, giving you full control over depth and saturation. It performs beautifully on natural fibers including cotton, linen, wool, and silk.

Recommended Use

Use at about 2% WOF for light blues, 5% for medium blues, and 10% or more for deep shades. Requires a reducing agent (such as thiourea dioxide, sodium hydrosulfite, or fructose) and an alkaline environment (soda ash, wood ash lye, or calcium hydroxide) to make a dye vat. Multiple dips produce darker colors and improve fastness. Indigo is ideal for resist dyeing, shibori, overdyeing, and complex color layering.

Historical Significance

Indigo has been used for thousands of years by civilizations around the world, from ancient Egypt and India to the textile traditions of West Africa and the Americas. Prized for its striking change from green to blue as it meets the air, indigo was so valuable in trade that it was called blue gold. In India, indigo cultivation and dyeing were a cornerstone of the textile trade, with knowledge passed down through generations. Its influence reaches into art, fashion, colonial history, and global trade, and traditional techniques are still practiced today.

Dye Details

Name: Indigotin from Indigofera tinctoria
Origin: India
Dye Type: Fermented botanical extract
Recommended Fibers: Cotton, linen, wool, silk, and other natural fibers
Lightfastness: Very good on all fibers
Vat Ingredients:
Reducing agent (thiourea dioxide, sodium hydrosulfite, or fructose)
Alkaline agent (soda ash, wood ash lye, or calcium hydroxide)
Warm water
Optional: henna or other natural fermentation aids for traditional vats

Packaging

Available in resealable, eco friendly kraft pouches with detailed vat instructions included.

Health and Safety

• For art use only. Not for cosmetic, food or children's use.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
• Avoid creating or breathing dust. Work in a ventilated area and wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator (P100 or better) when handling dry pigment.
• Wear gloves and eye protection. Wash hands and work surfaces after use, and never rinse pigment into drains.
• Do not spray apply, sand or burn.
• If swallowed or if you feel unwell, contact a poison control center (U.S. 1-800-222-1222) or a doctor.
• Safety Data Sheet available on request.