100% Natural Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)

Traceable · Traditionally fermented · Origin: India · Approx. 35-42% indigotin

This is a high-quality, truly natural indigo, prepared in India from fresh leaves of Indigofera tinctoria using a traditional natural fermentation process. The indigo is supplied in powdered form and produces clear, stable blue shades ranging from very pale sky blues to deep, dark navies.

All batches are subject to analytical controls to verify their natural origin. This additional level of checking provides reassurance and traceability in a market where adulteration and partial synthesis have become increasingly common.

The main colouring component is indigotin, valued for its excellent lightfastness and wash fastness when dyed correctly.

Use in textile dyeing

Indigo is an insoluble pigment rather than a mordant dye. In order to dye fibre, it must first be reduced from its blue, oxidised state into a soluble yellow-green form. This reduced indigo penetrates the fibre and then re-oxidises on contact with air — the moment when the characteristic blue colour develops.

This indigo is suitable for a wide range of vat systems, including natural fermentation vats, fructose or sugar vats, lime-based mineral vats, bran vats, and quick vats using hydros or thiourea dioxide. Vats typically operate at 30–40 °C, making indigo dyeing a comparatively low-energy process.

It can also be combined with other natural dyes, such as yellows or reds, to create layered colours including greens, purples, and complex overdyes.

Typical usage guide

For pale sky blues, approximately 1 g of indigo per 100 g of fibre is sufficient.
Medium denim blues are usually achieved with around 5 g per 100 g of fibre.
Deep navy shades generally require 12 g or more per 100 g of fibre, built up through multiple dips.

Other uses

Beyond textile dyeing, this indigo can be used as a natural pigment for paint making, ink, decorative finishes, and woodwork. When used as a pigment, it should be well ground into the chosen binder or medium to ensure even colour development and to avoid visible particles.

The plant

Indigofera tinctoria is a small shrub traditionally cultivated for indigo production and is thought to have originated in India. The plant and its dye are mentioned in some of the earliest Sanskrit texts, and indigo was long known as “the queen of dyes” before the widespread adoption of synthetic indigo at the end of the nineteenth century. Other species of Indigofera have also been used historically as sources of natural indigo.

Storage and safety

Store in a cool, dry place, sealed against moisture. Avoid inhaling fine powder and wear a mask when handling. Gloves are recommended when working with lime, hydros, or iron additives.
This product is not intended for food use.

Logwood Dye

Dye Colour: Blue, Purple & Black | Collected in the Wild in Haiti

Logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum), also known as Bois de Campeche or Campeachy Wood, is a natural, pH-sensitive dye that originates from wood found in Central America. This versatile dye creates stunning blues, purples, and deep blacks on wool, cotton, and silk. While its colour fastness is considered poor by experienced dyers, Logwood is commonly used in combination with other dyes to achieve rich, deep blacks. Perfect for eco-conscious artists, Logwood is available as cut or ground bark for your dyeing projects.

Colour Fastness: Poor (best used with other dyes for black)

Product Details:

• Dye Colour: Blue, Purple, and Black
• Perfect for: Wool, cotton, and silk
• Mordant: Alum (10%) for best results

Basic Recipe (Using Ground Bark):

1. Ingredients:

   • 65g Logwood bark (soaked for 2 days)
   • 100g mordanted yarn/fibre (Alum 10%)

Instructions:

• Bring the soaked bark to a simmer for 2 hours.
• Strain through cloth and add the yarn/fibre and dye bag to the dye bath.
• Simmer for 1 hour and then rinse.

Alternatively, soak the Logwood chips overnight, then boil for 1 hour before use.

For Logwood extract, please visit our Natural Dye Extracts Page.

Explore the potential of Logwood Dye for a range of vibrant blues, purples, and blacks in your natural dyeing projects!

The legendary blue pigment of the ancient Maya

Maya Blue is one of the most remarkable pigments in the history of natural colour. Developed by the ancient Maya civilisation of Central America, this pigment combines natural indigo with a mineral clay to create an exceptionally stable and luminous blue.

At AppleOak FibreWorks we produce our own Maya Blue pigment in small batches using natural indigo and carefully prepared mineral clay. Through controlled heating, the indigo becomes permanently bound within the clay structure, creating a pigment with outstanding stability and a distinctive mineral depth.

The result is a beautiful blue that differs subtly from standard indigo pigments — softer, mineral-rich and remarkably durable.

Why Maya Blue is unique 

Unlike ordinary indigo powder, Maya Blue forms a stable mineral–organic pigment where the indigo molecules are permanently bound within the clay structure.

This makes it highly resistant to:

• light and UV exposure
• humidity and environmental ageing
• acids and alkalis
• solvents

Because of this extraordinary stability, Maya Blue pigments found in ancient murals have remained vibrant for over a thousand years.

Suitable uses 

Maya Blue is an insoluble pigment, meaning it is used together with binders rather than dissolved like a dye.

It can be used for:

• natural inks
• watercolour and gouache
• egg tempera
• natural paint making
• textile printing with binders
• paper and book arts
• pigment research and historical techniques
• mixed media artwork

Pigment details 

Because this pigment is made from natural materials, slight variation in colour tone and particle size may occur between batches.

Packaging & storage 

Pigment is supplied in a sealed container suitable for long-term storage.

Store in a dry place and avoid inhaling pigment dust when handling fine powders.

Part of the AppleOak Future Natural Pigment Collection 

This pigment is part of our growing range of natural colour materials for artists, dyers and researchers. Many originate from traditional dye plants and allow exploration of colour beyond textiles — into inks, paints and mixed media work.

Black Mallow Rose Flowers (Hollyhock)
Latin: Malvae arbor. Flor. tot. | Botanical: Alcea rosea L.

These vibrant Black Mallow Rose Flowers, also known as Hollyhocks, are perfect for eco-printing and natural dyeing projects. When used in eco-printing, they create stunning purple-blue to violet hues on fabric, with the rich tones evolving beautifully over time. Their colour fastness ranges from weak to medium, but can be enhanced with the proper mordants.

Eco-Printing Tips:

• For deeper, more intense black and purple hues, use an iron mordant.
• For general printing or dyeing, follow a standard mordant procedure for balanced results.
• Only the petals and flowers are utilized for printing and dyeing.

Durability:

Black Mallow Rose prints can retain their colours for years, but that very much depends on light exposure and washing. The anthocyanins in the petals provide some longevity, though fading may occur with prolonged sunlight or frequent washing.

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your experiences and get support from fellow growers.

Dyer's Broom cut

This product, DYER'S BROOM ~ cut, is traditionally utilized for dyeing yellow and green shades. The resulting green hue tends to lean more towards a tan colour.

Colour fastness: medium

Basic recipe:

100% Broom
10% Alum
3% Iron as green option

Mordant as required, extract broom in 85C degrees Celsius for 1h. Remove dye, switch off pot and add your item and leave overnight. Treat with iron as an after mordant. Rinse, wash.

Colour fastness: medium