INDIGO DYEING

In Thailand, indigo is traditionally very much the colour of farmers, who wear indigo-dyed cotton clothes in the fields as they wear well and last a long time.  In many areas in the North-east and the North of Thailand, people still use indigo in their weaving.  Many are indigo farmers who grow indigo and make indigo paste to sell to weavers in surrounding villages.

For many people, indigo is believed to be a difficult dye to use.  Certainly the preparation of the dye vat needs special care and accuracy, but once you know how to use it, indigo is the simplest and quickest of dyes.

Two species of indigo plant are grown and used in Thailand.  One is indigofera tinctoria (known locally as kraam), which is most widely used.  The other type, mostly grown in the hills, is known as strobilanthes flaccidifolius, known locally as hom.

Indigo is different from other natural dyes in that it does not need mordant to make it fast to light and washing.  It is suitable for dyeing any type of natural fibre, creating a quality which is hard to define, but very appealing indeed.

The workshop will cover the whole process of indigo dyeing. This includes the preparation of indigo paste (for kraam during harvest time only, between September and November; all year round for hom), the preparation of an indigo dye vat, and the dyeing itself, including some resist techniques on cloth.

Short excursions to visit local indigo dyers and weavers in and around Chiangmai can be arranged, as well as trips further afield to the North-east and Laos.

Many samples from my private collection will be available for viewing and discussion.

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