Indigo pigment

Indigo (Latin. Indigofera tinctoria) stands as one of the most marvelous, complex, and rewarding natural dyes, with a history that spans thousands of years and is present in almost every culture worldwide. It imparts beautiful blue shades, ranging from pale sky blue to the deepest 'Blue of a thousand nights.' Additionally, its versatility shines through when used for overdyeing with other botanical dyes, allowing you to achieve the richest and deepest purples or greens.

Name: indigo pigment

Latin name: Indigofera tinctoria

Type: vat dye

Part of the plant used: leaves

Main colorants: indigotin

Main color: blue

Purpose: natural dye for textiles, leather, wood, candles, and other natural materials. Can be used for making botanical inks, pastels, watercolors, printing paste, etc. 

Indigo is distinct from other natural dyes; it is not soluble in water. Therefore, a few specific steps are required before it can be used to dye textiles in its signature wonderful blues. Various methods, created by ancient civilizations and contemporary masters, are available online, making it easy to find recipes such as the henna vat, ferrous vat or fructose vat.