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Our indigo comes from a farm in Tamil Nadu and is very strong (approx 50% indigotin). It reduces beautifully in an indigo vat. Indigo does not need a mordant for dyeing but good scouring of fabrics is essential.
Natural Indigo Dye is an extract prepared from Indigofera tinctoria which is cultivated for this purpose. Indigo is the legendary source of colourfast blues and its ability to produce a wide range of shades has made it the most successful dye plant ever known. Indigo grows all over the world but flourishes best in hot, sunny, humid areas. Indigo can give clear blues that range from the tint of a pale sky to a deep navy that is almost black.
The leaves of the Indigofera tinctoria are fermented in fermentation pits. The dye is precipitated by oxidation or by passing the air. The precipitated dye settles down at the bottom. The cake is dried in the air and sun and then cut into squares. Real indigo always smells a mix of fruit and compost.
Learn how to set up your first indigo dye vat here. It is recommended to have a look at the different dye instruction modules available here.
-Securely packed in a re-sealable zip bag for easy use and storage. Cake needs to be ground with pestle and mortar.
For use in soap; add to lye water, oils or at trace. Different methods will yield different shades of blue. SDS can be found in additional info sections.
"India" Indigo Powder (Indigofera Tinctoria)
Storage
Keep in a tightly closed container, stored in a cool, dry, ventilated area. Protect against physical damage. Maintain a constant temperature not to exceed 24° C. (75° F.). Containers of this material may be hazardous when empty since they retain product residues (dust, solids); observe all warnings and precautions listed for the product.
Heath and Safety
Do not ingest. Do not breathe dust. Wear protective gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask when handling fine dye powders and mordants.
Possibly harmful when swallowed or inhaled
Environmental Hazards
Natural dye powders are no known environmental concern. Mordants and mordanted dye baths should be disposed in a sensible way according to your local waste disposal laws.
