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By Amanda Lecky
Weavers from Mexico to Mali have used indigo dye for 4,000 years — but how the first dyers discovered that certain green leaves produce a rich blue pigment remains a mystery. It’s mysteries like these that drew author Catherine Legrand to study indigo and understand its history. In her book, Indigo: The Color That Changed the World (Thames & Hudson, 2013), Legrand unravels a bit of indigo’s enigmatic past and shares how it became one of the most beloved colors across countless cultures.
After the first dyers discovered indigo, a simple process to create indigo dye was formed: Soak the leaves in water to extract the color, treat with stabilizers, dry and pulverize into a powder, and finally mix with other ingredients to create the familiar blue dye.
From those simple beginnings, indigo became such a treasured commodity it was sometimes known as “blue gold.” By the end of the 19th century, production of natural indigo dye was at an all-time high, with plantation-scale operations and nearly 3,000 square miles of land, mostly in India, devoted to producing 19,000 tons of indigo per year. But in 1897, advances in organic chemistry had replaced natural indigo dye with a synthetic version. By 1914, the manufacturing of plant-based indigo had decreased to just 1,000 tons per year. Still, enthusiasm for indigo remained vibrant, even into the modern era: In 2002, 17,000 tons of synthetic indigo were produced worldwide.
How is all this indigo used? “For everything from dying fabric to leather to hair,” Legrand says. American blue jeans, Japanese kimonos, Chinese batik and Indian block prints all have one color in common: indigo. And indigo is not just for fabric. “Natural indigo carries the reputation of being an insect repellent, so it is used in Japan to dye mosquito nets. And in the south of France, for the same reasons, shutters, doors and carriages were painted in what was called bleu charrette, made from the pigment left over in the indigo vat mixed with lime,” Legrand says.
Of course, there’s no way to know exactly why the color of indigo is so appealing, but people worldwide tend to be partial to blues of all types. “It’s the color of the sky and the sea, and it’s rare in flora and fauna, which may explain why we value the color so much,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams.
Indigo is a great choice for interior walls, says Wadden, but using such a bold color can take a bit of finesse. “Indigo is so stunning, it needs very little competition,” Wadden says. “Use indigo with whites and yellow-based neutrals. If you want more energy, mix it with pops of red or orange. Or use it to anchor other, paler, watery blues.”
Paired with crisp white, indigo can help create a traditional New England look or, in a flat finish with washed woods, a Scandinavian effect, Wadden says. Choose from a wide range of indigo options in the Sherwin-Williams palette, or pick one of Wadden’s favorites: Indigo (SW 6531), “a bright, clean, saturated, energetic blue”; Indigo Batik (SW 7602), “a moodier, more traditional, washed-out shade”; or Gale Force (SW 7605), “inky, with a slight yellow undertone that almost looks time-worn.” Whichever you choose, you and your clients will feel right at home with history’s most beloved color.
Table of Content
- Introduction
- The Big Role and Meaning of Indigo
- Exploring the Depth and Significance of Indigo in Graphic Design
- Tracing the Journey of Indigo: A Simplified Guide from Its Origins to Today
- Analyzing the Cooperative Impact of Indigo in Design: Understanding its Interplay with Different Colors
- Mastering HEX Codes: Your Complete Guide to Achieving the Ideal Tints of Indigo
- Enhance Your Design Skills and Craft Stunning Graphics with Appy Pie’s AI Image Color Picker
- Conclusion
It’s a color with a significant presence in several aspects of human life, from everyday objects to special ceremonies.
One can see the widespread use of indigo in the fields of astronomy and physics. For instance, indigo light has a specific wavelength in the spectrum, and understanding this has been crucial in areas like spectral analysis and the study of distant celestial bodies.
The color indigo also holds an important place in the food industry. Some varieties of fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries and certain types of potatoes, are of indigo color. These not only add vibrancy to our plates but are also packed with beneficial nutrients like antioxidants.
In the world of sports and entertainment, indigo often plays a strategic role in team uniforms and logos, creating a sense of identity and unity. It is also a popular choice for theater and film lighting to set certain moods and effects.
Interestingly, indigo finds relevance in wellness practices too. It is associated with the ‘third eye chakra’ in some traditions, and is thought to promote intuition and clarity.
However, it’s not just about what meets the eye. Much like beige‘s understated elegance or green‘s refreshing vitality, indigo plays a significant role beyond just a visual element. Its influence stretches across diverse domains, be it the royal purple in art and culture or the classic black in fashion and design.
Thus, indigo’s influence is wide and varied, going far beyond what meets the eye. It’s a color that finds its way into our lives, not just as a visual element, but as a significant factor in diverse domains.
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Exploring the Depth and Significance of Indigo in Graphic Design
You might have seen Indigo in nature, like in a beautiful night sky. But did you know that it plays a big role in something we see everyday – graphic design?
In the world of graphic design, indigo is like a superhero. It can make things look modern and fresh, or give them a touch of mystery and sophistication. But that’s not all. Because it’s a darker color, it can also make other colors pop. Imagine a bright yellow logo on an indigo background – pretty eye-catching, right?
But indigo isn’t just about making things look good. It also has a lot of meaning. In some cultures, it represents wisdom, power, or spirituality. So, when graphic designers use indigo, they’re not just choosing a color. They’re telling a story, setting a mood, or conveying an idea.
Tracing the Journey of Indigo: A Simplified Guide from Its Origins to Today
Did you know that indigo has a long and interesting history?
A long time ago, people discovered indigo in nature. They found plants that could be used to make a dye of this color. This was a big deal! It allowed people to color their clothes and other things in a way they couldn’t before. Over time, indigo became really popular. It was used in art, in clothes, and even in some special ceremonies.
Nowadays, indigo is everywhere. You can find it in all sorts of things, from your favorite t-shirt to the big advertisements you see in the city. People love it because it’s a color that looks good with almost anything.
Indeed, indigo isn’t just a color. It’s a narrative, a testament to human curiosity and creativity. It reflects how we, as humans, discovered something as vibrant as the burnt orange sunset or as tranquil as the jade forest green in nature, and used it to make our world more visually stunning. And even today, this story keeps going as we continue to find new and exciting ways to use indigo in our lives.
