The Workshop Series: All About Indigo
If you were to make a rudimentary classification of natural dyes based on their color, this is how anyone familiar with the subject would do it - blue and everything else. In spite of being a primary color, the hue of the deep oceans and clear skies is a rarity in the world of botanical dyes. Unlike other natural dyes, indigo blue - obtained from the indigofera tinctoria plant - is extracted in its dyeable form through a series of processes. These include harvesting leaves, fermenting them in water, and retrieving indigo sediments from the leftover liquid for further processing into cakes or powder for dyeing needs. This natural form of indigo can’t adhere to fibers yet. The powder needs to be activated in an alkaline medium, and the fibers dipped in this solution, exposed to air - a process called reduction-oxidation - before the magical blue color emerges.
All of these are worthwhile, and yet, with the innovative bend of mind that ColorAshram possesses, the team set out to make indigo dyeing more readily accessible and effortlessly possible to new-age indigo lovers. The result - a quicker and more reliable indigo dyeing process in which the vat can be prepared as quickly as two hours. The secret? The powder is pre-fermented to cut down the preparation time.
So, indigo lovers and enthusiasts, we welcome you to explore more in the workshop All About Indigo. Take a journey from Level 1 through Level 3 as you discover the magical world of blue gold, or take a plunge into a level of your choice and your needs.
Level 1 - DIY Kit
This mini version of ColorAshram’s unique indigo dyeing process is sure to make you fall in love with nature’s true blue. The illustrated manual and tutorial video guide you in making an indigo vat with the powders contained and creating four stunning geometrical patterns using Shibori tie-dye techniques.
Level 2 - Online Sessions
This intermediate level unlocks newer realms of working with indigo. From preparing an indigo vat to storing it safely and reviving it for repeated use, you graduate through a series of processes that bring to life, the most sought-after color in the world of natural dyes. There are also nuances to be learned - modifying the mother vat to achieve desired shades, mixing indigo with other dyes, and dyeing 1 to 2 meters of fabrics with blue gold. Through the online sessions, the trainer guides you in fabric preparation and post-processing methods while also allowing you to experience the magic of tie-dye techniques and offering handy tips for manipulating larger fabrics.
Level 3 - Offline Sessions
As a seasoned artist, a professional, a brand, or a small-scale production unit, your go-to module for indigo dyeing is the advanced workshop. The sessions, conducted in person at the ColorAshram studio, hone your indigo dyeing skills and help expand your portfolio or product/service offering. The module focuses specifically on dyeing yarns and larger fabric batches of up to 5 meters, or garments not just in solid blue color but also varied tie-dye patterns and even ombre!
Ready to paint your hands blue yet?