Indigo Dye
Indigo Fabric Hung to Dry
Indigo Dye extracted from the plant pulp
Indigo Dye Mixture
Full of indigo goodness
Indigo Dye Vats
Scattered among the indigo dye fields
Indigo Dye Pools in the Mountains
Prior to being dyed
Fabric being soaked
Natural Dyes - The Indigo Process
NATURAL DYES - ZHARAN
Is a very traditional pattern making technique dating back over 1500 years in Yunnan. This ancient craft is hand made by complex string tying before the fabrics is natural indigo dyed, which is then untied to reveal patterns
ZHOUWEN
(SHIBORI)
Another ancient Chinese technique, using stitching instead of tying also dates back over 1000 years. Artisans hand stitch fabric together before dying. When unstitched, the patterns are revealed. This technique allows for more precise designs that look surprisingly contemporary.
LARAN
(BATIK)
Famous in the mountains of Guizhou, generations of women have used delicate brass tools and beeswax to create intricate hand painted patterns on cloth. The fabric is then natural indigo dyed. When boiled to remove the wax the motifs are revealed. Jess has worked with these artisans to create contemporary patterns using these ancient techniques.