S O C I A L F A B R I C @sdes3400-blog - Tumblr Blog

RETURN BRIEF

click on through for my return brief including initial sketches, material experiments and draft concept

INDIGO DYE

PROCESS

harvesting

the indigo plant indigofera tinctoria is cut and bunched

[ farmers on the living blue plantation ]

the bundles are stacked and pressed in baths, then combined with water. it is then pressed by hand/foot or stone with weight to extract colour - this is then left to soak and ferment, the water turns blue

lime is added to the water (to ratio) and beaten/stirred to oxidise the mix, turns navy in colour and froths when ready to settle

the bath is left to settle so the sediment collects at the bottom. excess water on top is carefully taken out

sediment-heavy water is filtered through a fine mesh sieve to filter any debris, and then again through a fine cotton cloth to achieve the indigo paste