How is Indigo fabric produced and why does it bleed ?

Considered as the king of blues, Indigo has a very rich and intense feel to it. It is extensively used at industrial level to dye fabrics. Both traditional and contemporary outfits can be seen with indigo colour or indigo block print. The speciality of this colour is that it is absolutely capable of lending a modish versatility to the cloth while at the same time keeping it sublime.

Back in the 1800s, indigo was obtained naturally from a plant called Indigofera. The leaves of it were fermented in water to obtain a natural indigo dye but now such natural process and colour are rare. Maximum of manufacturers have switched to synthetic indigo dyes. The process of dying the indigo fabric is as follows:

1. The fabric which is supposed to be dyed is washed properly. It is left soaked in water to improve its colour penetration capacity.
2. The indigo stock solution is prepared, either naturally through fermentation or by mixing the synthetic powder into water. Note: Both the natural and synthetic ways of preparing the indigo dye are detailed and requires precision plus practise.
3. Finally, when the solution is prepared, the cloth is dipped into it. Remember, indigo colour always works by oxidation. The colour which is seen while taking out the dipped fabric is totally different from the final result.
4. The fabric is hanged for drying and gradually during this time, the indigo colour intensifies.

Indigo block prints or indigo coloured fabrics have always been a favourite of people since the time they were discovered. But along with the demand, there is a concern commonly heard by people; “ indigo fabrics bleed a lot.” Do you know why it happens? Well, primarily the reason is this while dying the fabric into an indigo colour, the colours fail to form any chemical bond with the fabric. As a result, it becomes insoluble again while putting it into the water for washing. When you put it for drying, there is a reaction with air due to which the colour tends to accumulate at tiny places within the fibres. With the passage of time, the rubbing of the cloth causes the indigo colour to fade off and the appearance of white lines.