Indigo: The Roots & Revolution of a Dyestuff (Pre-Recording)

PRE-RECORDING

If you’d like to book on to one of the talks but can’t make it on the day, you can now buy a pre-recording, that you can re-watch as many times as you like ;-)

Here we'll talk about the variety of plants that produce the indigo pigment, the countries they're native to, and the similarities and differences of the dye processes that have developed in each community since ancient times.

We'll learn about the development of synthetic indigo, and compare the two in the context of the environment, and todays demand for indigo dye.

We'll visit the Silk Road, where 'true indigo' travelled from India, along with other dyes, silk, tea, paper, rice, gunpowder, perfumes, and medicine, from East to West along the trade routes to Europe, much to the dismay of the European Woad merchants.

Did you know that the use of 'true indigo' was punishable by death in Germany and France until as late as the 18th Century!?!?

We'll discover the earliest records of the use of indigo - no less than 6000 years ago (pre-dating the Ancient Egyptians by 1500 years) indigo was used in Peru - and not just to dye fibres for weaving.

Over the years it has been used to dye paper, to colour glass and buttons, as a pigment to paint with and even as a food colourant.

We'll also uncover the connection that indigo has had with social class and injustices through the ages. Like many other rare materials and resources, and with its nickname 'blue gold', despite its beauty, it is inextricably linked to much exploitation and cruelty.

We'll bring to light the ways in which indigo cultivation supported plantation slavery in the US after it was introduced to colonial South Carolina in the 1700's, and how the farmers of Bengal fought back against the oppression inflicted on them by the British planters in the Indigo Revolt of 1859.

We'll travel to Japan to learn about traditional Boro patchworks from the Edo period, patched and repaired repeatedly, in line with their sentiment of mottainai, or “too good to waste”, and discover some of the natural indigo dye houses still in operation there today.

Dye processes have developed rapidly since the Industrial Revolution, and with cheaper, faster production comes increased consumer demand. We'll look at some of the environmental issues around indigo along with some of the inspiring solutions that are now being tested, to make the famous blue dye 'green' again.

Please note: Upon booking you will receive a Vimeo link and password via email.