Natural indigo dye has a rich history of thousands of years but faced a significant downturn due to the introduction of synthetic indigo in the 1800s. In Japan's Tokushima Prefecture, skilled artisans continue the time-honored tradition of creating sukumo indigo, a unique type that takes a year to produce. Unfortunately, the efficiency and low cost of synthetic indigo, which is heavily used in the denim industry, limit the adoption of natural indigo. Despite its sustainable benefits—free from toxic chemicals—the challenge remains whether natural indigo can be produced at scale for wider usage.
Natural indigo dye has been used globally for thousands of years, but the arrival of synthetic indigo in the 1800s significantly impacted its production and usage.
In Japan's Tokushima Prefecture, a few artisans still practice the ancient craft of sukumo indigo dyeing, a tradition dating back eight centuries.
The natural indigo dyeing process is labor-intensive and lengthy, making it difficult to compete with the low cost and efficiency of synthetic alternatives.
With significant amounts of toxic chemicals used in synthetic indigo production, natural indigo is viewed as a sustainable option—but scaling its production remains a challenge.
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