At many points in time, indigo was the most important dye in the world. The only natural dye that offers clear and fast natural blue, indigo has been used to color textiles and rugs in all parts of the world. The word indigo is derived from Greek and means from India. Every major cultural area has derived its version of indigo colors – from the frescoes in South America to the kilims of Asia and the Middle East
All denim was initially dyed in France with indigo that was grown in some of the country’s colonies in the West Indies. However, today’s jeans vary in shade and color, all product of indigo dyeing. Depending on how many times a garment is dipped in indigo, the final color changes, offering a wide range of blue hues from stone wash to raw, almost black.
The Mayans made a turquoise out of indigo to use on their frescos by mixing indigo with a special clay. The Aztecs used indigo as medicine as well as dye, which they worshiped. Despite the fact that indigo has always been seen as a dye versus an actual color, in the past couple of decades as the interest in natural garments and product created closer to nature increases, we are witnessing interest in the color indigo.
Despite the fact that most indigo used nowadays is from synthetic sources, the natural and often imperfect appeal of the dye is growing among the mainstream consumer. The color of denim, indigo has been a staple for the past few seasons. Acne, Issey Miyake and Margaret Howell are few of the designers that included the classic color, as a statement, in their spring/summer 2012 collections. To read more about indigo and other dyes, make sure to read Victoria Finlay’s Color book.