The cultivation and extraction of natural indigo has been rooted in India for over 4,000 years. The technique of extracting indigo blue, historically considered the rarest and most regal color, was a closely guarded family secret, passed down from generation to generation. Through a careful process, indigo can produce a vast palette of blue hues, from the palest sky to the deepest midnight. Dye vats alone take a full week to prepare and require daily stirring. The un-dyed cloth is pinched, sewn, and tied according to precise patterns. Once dye is applied to the material, the ties are removed, revealing patterns of lines, shells, dots, or tracery.
