Our indigo dyeing is made possible by the work of countless microorganisms that are invisible to the eye.
Indigo dyeing using naturally fermented lye is not a chemical reaction caused by chemicals, but a collaborative effort with living organisms. That is precisely why knowing how to live alongside them is the most important factor in maintaining beautiful colors.
No Overwork, a Full Two-Day Weekend
Microorganisms deteriorate when overburdened. Dyeing large quantities at once or making them work without rest exhausts them, making it harder to produce color and, in the worst cases, even killing them.
Therefore, while setting a daily limit on the amount we dye, we designate two days a week as "no-dyeing days" to give the indigo dye vat a complete rest.
In terms of working styles in human society, it is like creating an environment similar to a "wholesome company" that finishes work on time and observes a full two-day weekend. We regularly provide wheat bran as a "staff meal" to nourish them, and sometimes add sake to stimulate their activity. The days we add sake are perhaps best described as a "month-end office party."
Changes in "Role" as They Age
Even when not overworked and carefully managed in a healthy environment, they gradually grow old just like humans. A young vat that has just been prepared produces a strong, deep indigo color, but over time its strength gradually declines, and eventually, it can only produce a pale, light color.
However, older vats also have a clarity and softness that younger vats cannot produce, making them indispensable for expressing a pale, translucent indigo color.
The Color Gradients Created by Diversity
In our workshop, there are always dye vats of various ages lined up, from young vats to middle-aged vats and even old vats. It is precisely because of this environment where diverse generations work together that the diverse color gradients expressed by THE TERROIR are created.
Observing their condition every day and managing them so that they can live a healthy life for as long as possible. This may be a method far removed from efficiency, but this pace of working with indigo as a living organism is essential for creating the colors we envision.