Indigo is so much more than a color. It’s a legacy of mystery, power, and artistry. It’s deep, moody, and mesmerizing. Indigo is known for being the color of rebels, makers, mystics, and kings. It has a rich history, and you can trace its roots from ancient rituals to modern runways. It’s a shade of blue that has influenced the world.

Indigo’s birth can be traced back to India sometime around 2500 B.C. The leaves of the Indigofera tinctoria plant were harvested and fermented to produce a vibrant blue pigment. This labor-intensive process consisted of soaking the leaves, fermenting the soaked leaves, and then aerating the liquid to bring out the gorgeous blue. The result was a dye that was bold and colorfast. It then was used as a symbol of wealth and status.

Egyptians used indigo-colored fabrics in their burial rights and have been found in mummified remains by scientists. West Africans would wear indigo garments for spiritual ceremonies and rites of passages. In Japan, indigo represented high art and the intricate shibori technique and samurai wore indigo dyed clothing for symbolism and antibacterial benefits. Indigo also sparked worldwide trade wars and colonial exploitation.

Around the beginning of the 18^th century, indigo became a prized commodity. Highly sought after, especially in August, when fleets of ships would time their voyages with the winds. European merchants craved the dye cakes and plantations in America were built to meet the new demands even though it was at the cost of many lives. In the 19^th century, synthetic indigo disrupted traditional practices when artists around the world began to protest and try to find more sustainable methods to achieve colors.

Today you can find indigo mostly used in jeans. The iconic fade is the magic of indigo dye at work. Each pair of jeans can tell a story of movement, wearability, and personality. Indigo is also seeing a comeback in natural dyeing, eco-conscious designs, and cultural preservative projects. Indigo is more than just a pigment or color, It’s a whole vibe. It is often associated with depth, transformation, and intuition, while also being the color of mystery and twilight. It’s the shade of a heroine’s fight, velvet sky before a light breakthrough, or a lover’s secret. Whatever the case may be for your use of indigo, let it infuse your work with timeless magic.

XOXO,

Savi Monroe