Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) 

The most mystically charged of the natural dye colours. The colour of the sea, the sky and of our beautiful living planet. Its bluey charm concealed inside green leaves, and transformed only by a certain alchemical knowledge and practised skill. It has captured the imagination of many. 

Colours:
A layered dye which gives innumerable shades of blue from the lightest icy blue wash to the deepest darkest deep-sea navy and verging on black.

Ingredients:
Indigofera tinctoria extract powder 

A natural Indigo prepared from fresh leaves of Polygonum tinctorium Aiton, also named Persicaria tinctoria (Aiton) Spach, 

Indigo is a “vat dye” and unlike other natural dyes which fall into the categories of “adjective”, “substantive” or fugitive”, indigo is not soluble in water. It is soluble instead, in an alkaline environment in which the oxygen has been removed. It therefore requires a slightly more complex process to achieve its beautiful hues.

This vat uses only the non-toxic, natural ingredients: Slaked lime, fructose sugar and indigo.

For a medium to dark blue:500g fibre = 25g indigo / 50g cal / 75g fructose

Fastness:high colour fastness 

Mordants/Modifiers:No mordant is required as indigo is a substantive dye.

Ph sensitivity:Very stable 

Extraction Technique:
Extracting indigo from its plant origin requires a complex fermentation process, which is labour and time intensive.