Indigo. Indigoing. Indigone.

“Indigo Dreams”, Created by author using Midjourney

This intriguing color sparked curiosity when Isaac Newton introduced it as one of the seven colors in his spectrum, ROYGBIV, aiming to align with the mystical number seven.

Is indigo one of the 7 wonders of the world? Not quite.

Is it a blue? Is it a purple? Is it Superman?

Indigo is a term used for a number of hues in the region of blue.

Thank you Wikipedia.

How to Design with Indigo

While indigo is considered a shade of blue, there are many hues to explore!

When professional dyer Aboubakar Fofana was asked, “How do you perceive the colour blue?” he replied:

“The short answer...is that I think more about a range of blues than I do about a single notion of blue.”

— Aboubakar Fofana

He goes on to say that in Malian culture an accomplished indigo dyer is able to create at least twelve shades of blue (Beyond The Blueness).

Do you want to brighten a dark room? Choose a light indigo.

Do you want a pop of color? Opt for a blue with a hint of purple AKA indigo.

Do you want dark and moody? Opt for an almost black shade of indigo.

It's important to recognize the colors that complement or are split-complementary to indigo.

Indigo, situated between blue and purple on the color wheel, naturally complements both orange and yellow. Blue pairs well with orange, while purple pairs with yellow.

Therefore, indigo harmonizes best with golden hues, which are a blend of yellow and orange.

Spring Poppies, Spoonflower

Vera Wallpaper, Burke Decor

Indigo and Orange, Spoonflower

I have an odd obsession with the blue sunflowers... someone hire me so I can use this in your space!

Wouldn’t it be stunning in a bedroom with all of the trim painted blue?

Or on the ceiling in a dining room?

I could see it coordinating with a pinstripe….

**Indigo as an Accent**

Notice the pop of indigo that interior designer Alisha Gwen incorporated into this home office.
The solid blue boucle fabric on the office chair acts as an anchor to the room. The soft, pink cabinetry and whimsical wallpaper pair well with the geometric drapery and blue desk chair.
**Pro tip:** It’s best to select your drapery or wallpaper first, that way you can draw colors out of them as you design your room.

Indigo as a Backup Dancer

This dining room on Emily Henderson’s blog showcases the power of color!

The blue actually helps you focus more on the details of the space, like the fabulous framed map, wood bar cabinet, and the thrifted wood dining chairs.

This is the perfect example of color enhancing a room.

Designer Ginny MacDonald wrote a deep dive on her own dining room, sharing the progress along the way. You can read more about this blue dining room here.

**Indigo Front and Center**

This Airbnb designed by Sara Ruffin Costello showcases daring color choices in the heart of New Orleans.
The golden tapestry above the bed dances gracefully with the wooden ceilings and antique artwork throughout.
The textured blue bedding and velvet loveseat at the end of the bed add more indigo drama to the room. Check out that fringe!

Indigo in Architecture

Remember last week where we learned that blue represented heaven and spirituality?

Color symbolism and architecture often go hand in hand.

Let’s dive deeper into blue in Islamic architecture.

**Jalil Khayat Mosque, Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq**

“The color blue (al-azraq) in Islamic tradition often signifies the impenetrable depths of the universe, and turquoise blue is thought to have mystical qualities (Blue Islamic Architecture)”.

One point of entry to the mosque is adorned with blue striped columns and intricate blue tiles above each arch. Once inside, you’re greeted with a myriad of colors. The intricacies of the tile work are stunning.

**Shah Cheragh, Shiraz, Iran**

Absolutely incredible.
“Shah Cheragh is a 12th century funerary monument and religious complex. It is centered around the mausoleum of Sayyid Ahmad, the son of Musa al-Kazim, who is known as Shah Cheragh (King of the Light) in local traditions, and hence the building is named as such” (Shah Cheragh).

Millions of mirror shards make up the beautiful ceiling and wall details throughout the complex.

The prayer hall of the mosque in the Shah Cheragh complex

More details The tomb of Mir Muhammad in the mausoleum

One of the prayer halls adjoining the mausoleum

In Islamic culture, it’s believed that only God has the power to create and form life. Therefore, Islamic art refrains from depicting human or animal figures. In the Qur’an God is referred to as “the shaper of forms” (Islamic Tile History and Inspiration).

Loai M. Dabbour, in his article, "Geometric proportions: The underlying structure of design process for Islamic geometric patterns," explains how the geometric patterns used in Islamic art are rooted in mathematics, showcasing the significance of unity and order. This points to the orderly nature of the universe created by God (Islamic Tile History and Inspiration).

The Victoria and Albert Museum notes that Islamic culture has employed calligraphy more extensively than any other tradition, extending the use of the written word from paper to various art forms, such as tiles and architecture. Arabic holds particular importance for Muslims as it is the language in which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century (Islamic Tile History and Inspiration).

Origin of Indigo

Image from “En handbok om indigo” is a great source of information about indigo dyeing — however, it’s only available in Swedish.

Issac Newton, our dear friend, decided that there needed to be seven colors on the ROYGBIV spectrum because the number was spiritual and mystical. At the time, there were seven planets, and there are also seven notes on the musical scale.

I can’t help but assume he was influenced by a new blue dye that had been imported from the Indies…

The Indigo Dye.

“The word “indigo” comes from the Latin word indicum, meaning “Indian”, as the plant-based dye was originally exported to Europe from India.”

— Indigo, Wikipedia

Let’s explore this highly sought after dye and how it came to be.

The Creation of Indigo

1. Indigofera: Indigofera is a species of plant derived from the bean family.

The indigo dye is obtained from the processing of the plant's leaves. They are soaked in water and fermented in order to convert the chemicals naturally present in the plant into a blue dye. Then the precipitate from the fermented leaf solution is mixed with a strong base such as lye.

2. The Woad Plant: Scientifically known as “Isatis Tinctoria”, this flowering yellow plant is a member of the mustard family. Woad is the name of the blue dye that is produced from its leaves.

Indigofera eventually replaced Woad because it yielded a stronger color.

Dyeing Indigo

While the leaves are still fresh, they are harvested and placed inside a vat of room-temperature water. They will remain in the tub for the fermentation process until the water turns green, roughly 3-4 days (Indigo).

Crushed limestone is then added to the water, and the leaves are vigorously agitated for 15-20 minutes until the water turns blue. During this process, the blue pigment will settle in the bottom of the tub. It is then scooped out, sometimes in ball form, and stored (Indigo).

For dyeing cloth, the pigment is boiled in the tub and the cloth is inserted into the vat for absorbing the dye. After hanging out to dry, the boiling process is repeated as often as needed to produce a darker color (Indigo).

Photo by François Goudier

If you are interested in learning more about the history and process of indigo dying in West Africa, check out this article on Aboubakar Fofana.

“Aboubakar Fofana is a multidisciplinary artist and designer whose working mediums include calligraphy, textiles and natural dyes. He is known for his work in reinvigorating and redefining West African indigo dyeing techniques, and much of his focus is devoted to the preservation and reinterpretation of traditional West African textile and natural dyeing techniques and materials” (Beyond the Blueness).

Indigo in Art

Since the blue pigment for painting was extremely expensive, indigo dye became popular for dyeing clothing and fabrics.

For goodness sake, the denim industry bleeds indigo dye.

One process I’ve always been particularly fond of is shibori.

“Shibori is the Japanese word for a variety of manual resist dyeing techniques that involves shaping and securing the fabric before dyeing to create patterns” (Shibori – Indigo Tie Dye via Ancient Japan).

These techniques date back to the 8th century!

Here are six different shibori techniques from “Shibori – Indigo Tie Dye via Ancient Japan”.

Kanoko Shibori

Miura Shibori

Nui Shibori

Kumo Shibori

Arashi Shibori

Itajime Shibori

Here’s a DIY guide on how to dye your own shibori fabric: Traditional Indigo Shibori Basics.

Artist Spotlight

Shea of Chez Shea is a talented artist who folds and dyes paper to create beautiful patterns. Similar to the cloth dyeing techniques of shibori, Shea specializes in the art of orizomé (folding & dyeing paper).

“Beautiful results come both when I create with intention towards a certain shape or style and when I create without any care for the end result. I can fold and dye for hours watching each design bleed, develop, and unfold in front of my eyes. No single pattern is ever exactly the same, though, which is what I love about this art.”

— Shea of Chez Shea