True blue fashionista

Manpriya Singh

Indigo is not just another shade from the blue family. Not anymore. It’s a colour that echoes the natural dye movement. The resurgence of organic dyes the world over and our native fascination for ‘blue’ means, indigo need not fight for the spotlight any longer. While the revival signs first showed up a decade ago, they are now clearly visible in collection notes, on the ramps and designers’ studios.

Designers who see blue, nah indigo!

Back in 2014, designer Priyadarshini Rao’s collection titled An Ode To Indigo was a simple acknowledgement to a strong colour.

The collection, showcased at Lakme Fashion Week, might or might not have its origins in natural dyes, but it put the spotlight on a hue that could now be derived sans synthetic dyes. The collection played creatively with many hues, shades and tones of indigo, at times fusing in elements of tangerine, fuschia among a palette comprising pale blue, cobalt, navy and midnight hues. Fashion A-lister Rajesh Pratap Singh’s Indigo Project captured the making of khadi jeans from start to finish. From local artisans working on handlooms to dipping the hand spun yarn in natural dye. The collection Bagru Banjara from the House of Tuhina brought out the beauty of colour Indigo against Rajasthani hand block prints.

The Indigo movement

Indigo is derived from the plant Indigofera tinctoria and neervel found in the region of Kutch. Dyeing happens through a process of natural fermentation. Opines Chhaya Vardhane, who showcased at GenNext section, a couple of years ago, “The sheer popularity of pigments like terracotta and indigo owes to its origins in natural dyes. They might not all be made using natural dying processes but they definitely owe their popularity to the fact that several conscientious designers use these colours in their collections, owing to ecological responsibility.” Which is a good thing.

The colour of the decade and why

Like we said, it is not just a colour, it is the poster colour of natural dyes and natural dyes movement is the first off-shoot of eco-friendly fashion. 

Designer Shruti Sancheti ensures that the hue is invariably a part of her every collection. “Indigo is not only a dye but a part of history as the indigo revolution was crucial in shaping Indian freedom from British rule. With sustainability and eco friendly fashion being so popular and trendy and yet environment friendly and with lots of dyeing techniques and method a variety of fabrics are available. The colour is very versatile and suits everyone and currently is used in everything from denims to kurta to dresses to even formal outfits.”