Indigo dyeing
Indigo is a pigment, extracted from Indigofera tinctoria plants. It was originally used to give denim its authentic and luminous blue colour. History tells us indigo had been imported from India and used in Europe for painting as well as medicinal use. It symbolised something divine, mysterious. People believed it had healing powers, partially probably due to its special, luminous blue colour. Today, denim industry uses mostly synthetic indigo.
Indigo powder is obtained from dried leaves of Indigofera plant. Blended with water and reducing agent in what is known as a dyeing vat, makes the liquid into which cotton yarns are dipped. The size of indigo molecules prevents them to penetrate throughout the yarn, resulting in so-called ring dyeing. Only upper part of yarn gets coloured, while the core retains natural colour. This results in incredible fading of denim fabric. It’s really the only fabric we love both – virgin (new) and faded.