Aijozome (Indigo Dye)
Aijozome (Indigo Dye)
Aijozome (Aijo:藍錠) is a new product to use indigo pigment by just dissolving it in water without using a harmful chemical agent. This indigo light blue perfectly matches with other earthy colors of Bengala. You can dye over or mix with Bengala.
As natural plant of indigo, this product gradually ferments after opening and make odor. Before opening, it can be stored at room temperature for 6 months. After opening, store it in refrigerator to delay fermentation.
Ingredient: Indigo from South India, Water, Natural rubber latex
Dyes approx. 3 T-shirts with one bottle (100ml)
Recommended: Use Begala Dye Prefixer for preparation before dyeing.
About Aijozome (Aijo Indigo Dye)
Aijo means pure indigo pigment that is extracted from fresh indigo leaves through the process of fermentation and precipitation. Jo, the second syllable of "Ai-jo" is a measuring word introduced to Japan as a counting a grain in Chinese medicine.
The country of origin is Tamil State in South India.
Aijo Indigo Dye is made from natural Indian indigo that is grown and harvested in the vast Indian soil. Indian indigo is a plant of leguminous family called Komatsunagi. Abundant Indigo pigment can be extracted from Komatsunagi since it has plenty of indigo, unlike Japanese Polygonaceae family which has little indigo. This method of extraction of indigo can be only possible in Southern India where its climate is warm and mild.
The word “indigo” spread to the world by trading companies established in India from the middle of 15th century to the middle of 17th century, so-called the Age of Discovery. Most of indigo was traded and used as pigment in Europe. In America, indigo was used for dyeing denim fabric during the Gold Rush era. Indigo was useful to repel rattlesnakes from workers who wore denim. In 1900, synthetic indigo was invented from oil in Germany, which made natural indigo less in demand. There are only a few places that still make indigo in India now. They still manufacture by hands like the old days, which makes indigo very scarce and valuable materials.
During the process of being dried and pigmented, microorganism in indigo becomes inactive. To make microorganism active again, chemicals such as caustic soda, need to be added. Indian indigo is natural but caustic soda is chemical. So the idea of Aijo Indigo Dye came from how we can use natural indigo as pigment without adding any chemicals.
Although the color of Aijo Indigo Dye does not become as vivid as typical indigo dyeing since it is not reduced by chemical agent to resolve in water. However, Aijo Indigo Dye is 100% natural and safe. This is because only natural indigo pigment adheres to and dyes the fabric, retaining the effects of medicine as well.
There is no harm for children to use Aijo Indigo Dye.
Dyeing with sukumo (fermented indigo leaves with traditional method) requires a user to learn how to handle pigments and equipment, which takes a certain amount of time. Aijo Indigo Dye made by Kosyokunobi is meant to dye something in everyday life. Anyone can enjoy natural Aijo Indigo Dye technique. It is safe for environment as well. You can dye it at home whenever you have time. You can also enjoy exploring it by mixing with Bengala Dye. Since it is natural, one can wash dyed fabrics at a sink at home without worrying about chemical leaks.
Aijo Indigo Dye is a natural dyeing method, made to meet today's needs and safe standards.
From Left to right : 藍空（あいぞら)＝藍錠(Aijyo)＋胡粉(K-2), 霙（みぞれ)＝藍錠(Aijyo)＋松脂, 生葉（なまば)＝藍錠(Aijyo)＋鬱金(K-5), 藍鼠（あいねずみ)＝藍錠(Aijyo)＋古色(K-1), 歌舞伎（かぶき)＝藍錠(Aijyo)＋茜(K-7)
というように混ぜて染めることで上記のような色に染まり上がります。藍とベンガラが混ざることで深みのある色に染まります。
