Indigo Dyeing

The stems and leaves of the indigo plant are chopped, tied into bundles, then soaked in earthenware jars to ferment. Snail shells and male urine activates the dye bath. The dyer controls the depth of the indigo blue color by the number of times the cotton threads are dipped - the more dips, the darker the color. This dyer is holding the weft ikat threads in the air to oxidize, a process called “blooming.” She continues dipping until the desired color is reached.

Nong Khai Province, NE Thailand