Women: Classic Indigo

We’re a little too obsessed with Indigo. At Pinklay, we have a wide range of Indigo clothing for women. Indigo is the king of blues, especially when it comes to indigenous printing techniques like daabu, bagru, and hand block print. Indigo dyeing has been around for almost 6000 years now. It is said that the earliest evidence of indigo dyeing comes from the Indus Valley Civilization. During those days indigo cloth was priced high for its rich color and labour-intensive technique of indigo dyeing. Indigo dyeing is still a widely appreciated and cherished tradition in numerous cultures across the globe. From the intricate dabu hand block-printing techniques of India to the traditional Japanese art of shibori, indigo remains to be the king of blues. 

Did you know? Most of the indigo used in the past was plant-based. Making natural indigo dyes is a labour-intensive process and takes hundreds of man-hours and years of skill to get it right. Hence, natural indigo has been replaced with chemically produced indigo dye in most places, with only a few families/villages pursuing the traditional art of indigo making in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. And, even fewer designers and indigo clothing brands have retained plant-based indigo in their manufacturing as it adds to the cost and has a lower yield. At Pinklay, we run small production batches of daabu hand block printing and our love affair with handcrafts of India is one to last!

The Process of Indigo Dabu Handblock Printing

Daabu is an age-old mud-resist dyeing technique that has been used in India for centuries. Here is an overview of the dabu printing process:

1. Preparing fabric: The technique starts with preparing the fabric for printing which involves several washes.
2. Creating design: A wooden block is used to print the design using a mix of calcium hydroxide (chuna), gum and wheat chaff. This mix is called mud resist clay. Later, sawdust is spread over the printed part to bind it or create a vacuum. This prevents Indigo dye from penetrating the printed portion.
3. Indigo bath: Finally, the fabric is submerged in a traditional indigo bath. It is a mix of natural and man-made indigo blend dye.
4. Washing and finishing: This is then followed by drying the fabric out in the sun and then finally washing it several times to get rid of the excess dye.

he color of indigo dyed clothing ranges from deep blue to a purplish hue, depending on the intensity of the dye and the type of fabric used. Indigo blue clothing is a popular choice due to its unique and versatile appearance, as well as its sustainability as a natural dye.

Indigo Colour Clothes at Pinklay: 

Our collection offers a range of chic and versatile indigo ladies clothing that is perfect for anyone looking to add some unique and sustainable pieces to their wardrobe. You can shop our indigo clothes online, as well as at our stores. Take a look at our indigo collection clothes: 

Indigo Kaftans: We have a lot of different kinds of kaftans available in Indigo ~ free-size kaftans, short kaftans, kaftan dresses, kaftan shirt dresses and more. 

Indigo Kurtas: Our collection of indigo kurtas is perfect for everyday wear, featuring Pinklay prints and designs that make them stand out.

Indigo Dresses: Our indigo dresses are versatile and elegant, and can be styled in multiple ways depending on the occasion.

Indigo Co-ords: At Pinklay, indigo co-ords are popular. They will see you through work to brunch to coffee dates to long flights.

How to Style Indigo Clothes?

Indigo clothes can be styled in a variety of ways, depending on the occasion and personal preference. Here are some tips on how to style indigo clothes:

1. Deciding color combinations with indigo clothes is easy. It is a versatile colour and goes very well with colours like white, pink, mustard and green.
2. A statement necklace or earrings can add some sparkle to an indigo outfit.
3. Indigo clothes can be mixed and matched with other prints and colors, but be sure to balance out the outfit by choosing complementary shades.
4. Indigo garments can be dressed up with heels and jewellery for a formal occasion, or dressed down with sneakers and a denim jacket for a more casual look.
5. Indigo clothes can be layered with other garments such as blazers, cardigans, or denim jackets to create different looks and add some warmth in cooler weather.

Does Indigo Run Colour?

It's characteristic of indigo dye to run colour over time. The nature of indigo dye is such that it does not penetrate the fabric fibres evenly. Hence, the dye can sometimes be rubbed off, causing it to run colour. This colour run is harmless and does not fade the garment. Indigo dyes do not take harsh light, heat, and moisture well. This can cause the dye to break down and run colour. So, keep them away from extreme weather conditions.

How to Take Care of Indigo Clothing?

Indigo is beautiful...but it needs to be treated with care and love, while making and wearing, both. With proper care, natural indigo-dyed clothing can remain vibrant and beautiful for many years. Follow these simple steps while washing your indigo clothing:

1. Wash infrequently and separately in cold water.
2. Avoid exposure to harsh sunlight and high moisture.
3. Avoid harsh detergents, bleach, soaking.
4. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing indigo-dyed fabrics.
5. Avoid wringing and twisting, instead rinse gently.
6. Always flat dry on a hanger, in shade.
7. Iron on reverse and store them away from moisture.
8. Avoid wearing or washing Indigos with lighter colours.

At Pinklay, we pre-wash our Indigo garments 7-8 times before dispatch, yet there is a possibility for it to run colour in the first few washes, or run against the skin and light-coloured garments in extreme heat and moisture situations. This running of colour is harmless, characteristic of Indigo dyeing and generally does not fade the garment.

To make it easy for you, each of our indigo clothing comes with an indigo clothing label with detailed instructions on how to take care of them. 

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