Some farm villages on the north side of the Yoshino River basin are known as Awa. They are the biggest makers of indigo in Japan. This site will introduce the making of natural indigo. Indigo dying is becoming more popular through the world.
Return to Top Page Indigo seeds are sowed in the spring. In the middle of July, the leaves are reaped and dried for one or two days. Then they are stored in a storehouse for the first ten days of September. And they are soaked with water. As a result, the leaves of indigo are fermented. This is called “Sukumo”. Next, they put the Sukumo in a jar, and add water and top they put a layer of charcoal, and stir a few times everyday. After a few days, the indigo liquid soaks out. It takes about ten months to make good indigo dye. Kinds of Indigo Japanese Indigo In Japan, the indigo is Tade indigo of the Tade family. The flowers of this type are red and white. In Okinawa, they use Ryukyu indigo of the Kitsunenomago family. These are perennial plants. Indian Indigo India was the main source of indigo from antiquity to the 19th century. India indigo is the Mame family of Komatsunagi genus. They are perennial plants. Chinese Indigo In China, the kinds of indigo are Ryukyu indigo, India indigo, Tade indigo and Suzuna indigo. Return to Top Page First: Adding alkaline liquid Sukumo can’t melt into water, so Sukumo becomes liquidized by adding alkaline liquid. The cobalt colored bubbles rise to the surface. Then we can dye. Second: Dying Put the white cloth into the indigo liquid. Then, the cloth is put out in the air until the dye is sufficiently aired. Like this, the cloth is dyed and aired over and over again. Third: Drying The dyed cloth is rinsed thoroughly and then allowed to dry. INDIGOTIN contained in the indigo-dye vat is oxidized whenever the materials are dipped in the solution then exposed to air. The leaves are finely cut, dried and fermented by spreading water over them again and again until they produce the dyestuff. The idyllic tone of indigo is an example of our traditional craftsmanship and represents one of the products of this area.
|