Indigo dyeing workshop to be held in Hanoi

Participants pose with their indigo dyeing samples at a workshop on indigo dyeing at Indigo Store in June. A similar event will be held on August 31 - Photo: Courtesy of organizer

Indigo is a deep rich violet-blue color. The color is named after the indigo dye extracted from leaves of the Indigofera tincoria plant which grows in tropical climates. It is probably the most famous of all natural dyes made by crushing the plant leaves and fermenting them in water.

At the workshop, participants will learn about how the indigo plant is grown, natural dyeing materials, ethnic minority people’s indigo dyeing process and techniques, how to create different and simple dyeing patterns, as well as ethnic minority cultures in general.

They will design, make and dye their own indigo samples with the help of Indigo Store’s staff.

At Indigo Store, Duong Thi Thanh and her team also preserve and restore the traditional culture of ethnic minorities in Sapa.

They support about 120 producers from seven different ethnic minority groups in the production of organic plants and handmade textiles, and employ disabled or deaf staff to help them have a sustainable livelihood.

The indigo dyeing workshop, led by Thanh, will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Indigo Store, 33A Van Mieu Street.

For more information or registration, contact Stella at stella@fvheritage.org.

Friends of Vietnam Heritage is a non-formal group of predominantly Hanoi residents from many countries, whose purpose is to enhance and deepen the understanding of Vietnam’s culture, and to help with its preservation.