INDIGODYE
Natural indigo dye come from three distinct plants — Persicaria tinctoria, Indigofera, and Woad. However not only do these plants provide textiles with a colour that is difficult to obtain; woad and indigofera are also used for medicinal purposes.
WOAD
Woad is native to Europe and Asia, and is considered to be either a weed or a low risk herb. Grown in northern and central China, it is used in Chinese medicine not only for its antibiotic and antifungal properties, but also for treating fungal infections, cancer cells, and reducing inflammation. The leaves and roots are used to aid recovery from common cold, throat infection, hepatitis, and shingles.
Blue pigment is extracted from woad leaves. However, the leaves can also be used internally in the treatment of meningitis, influenza, heat rashes and more. They are harvested either fresh or dry and boiled into a bitter tea. The root is antibacterial and anticancer. Its decoction is used in the treatment of fevers, eye infections, and mumps. Both the leaves and the roots are used in the treatment of pneumonia.
INDIGOFERA
Dye produced by Indigofera is darker than that of woad, and is used not only in textiles but also the dyeing of black hair. It is also used by the Chinese to purify liver, reduce inflammation as well as treating ovary and stomach cancer.
Juice made from Indigofera leaves are sometimes taken with honey and milk, acting as a remedy for nervous disorders, epilepsy, fever, asthma, and bronchitis. The leaves can also be applied externally to treat skin diseases, wounds, sores, ulcers and haemorrhoids. Indigofera roots may be applied to relieve toothache, gonorrhoea and kidney stones.
In certain Middle Eastern countries, indigofera powder is rubbed onto the skin and masks for beauty purposes, not only protecting the skin but softening it as well.
CHINA
Most of traditional indigo dyeing takes place in Gui Zhou, China. Women from various villages grow and harvest the leaves, prepare the dye and weave the cotton before dipping it into the bath. Deep indigo shaded fabric are dipped in egg white and sometimes pigs blood before being pounded by big, wooden mallets until glossy.
YORUBA
In Nigeria, the craft of natural indigo dyeing becoming harder to sustain in terms of business.
Naturally dyed garments are saved for ceremonial purposes, whereas fast fashion is preferred for the people’s daily lives.