Its use also drastically increased around the mid-seventeenth century thanks to the bountiful use and harvest of indigo dye from plants. Most of these countries and regions became familiar with the hue thanks to the plants called Indigofera and Isatis, commonly used to obtain this deep blue, almost purplish dye.ĭue to its demand and versatility, indigo dye, a type of vat dye, became valuable trading well, especially as it was commercially sourced and used by none other than Levi Strauss and his iconic blue denim jeans. The term indigo was patterned after the Roman term ‘indicum,’ meaning coming from or being a product of India.Īlthough indigo’s origins are largely attributed to India, this color is also common in other parts of the globe, such as Africa, Britain, China, Egypt, Greece, Peru, and even ancient Rome. One look and it can be described as having a purplish-blue hue, akin to the sky at midnight. Situated between these two cool colors, indigo is described as taking on a deep, rich tone that bears both blue and violet. To further your knowledge and understanding, make sure to keep reading… What Is Indigo?Īs mentioned earlier, Indigo is a color that lies between blue and violet. With indigo bearing symbolisms and importance to various parts and cultures of the world, it’s essential to learn more about this hue and what it represents. Unbeknownst to many, indigo has actually been present for hundreds and thousands of years, from India to China to Egypt and other parts of the globe. After all, this is a perennial clothing staple present in just about every closet in the world. Hearing the word indigo, one might immediately think of jeans. Not quite blue and not quite violet, this unique hue stands out from the crowd thanks to its enthralling and vibrant nature that perfectly combines the best of blue and violet into one intriguing outcome. Indigo is situated right between blue and violet, not just on the color wheel but also in the rainbow itself. During her stay in Ghana, McKinley learned that cloth is valued more than many women's bank accounts and insurances.Are you curious about what is the meaning of the color indigo? We will share the answer in this article. Although nowadays, most cloths on the continent are dyed with a much cheaper synthetic color, owning cloth is considered a huge asset. The original American flag was also made from indigo textiles.Īcross the ocean, on the African continent, indigo-dyed cloth helped financially empower many African women. "At the time of the America revolution, the dollar had no strength, and indigo cakes were used as currency," McKinley says. They were trading one length of cloth, in exchange for one human body."Įnslaved Africans carried the knowledge of indigo cultivation to the United States, and in the 1700s, the profits from indigo outpaced those of sugar and cotton. "Indigo was more powerful than the gun," McKinley tells Tell Me More host Michel Martin. While indigo traces its roots to India, the African slave trade made it exceedingly valuable on that continent. She tells her story in her book Indigo: In Search of the Color that Seduced the World. You probably take the blue in your favorite jeans or denim bean bag chair for granted now, but it was once prized by slave traders, spiritual leaders, royalty and rag traders alike.Ī decade ago, Catherine McKinley embarked on a trip through nine West African countries, armed with a fellowship and her fascination for the blue dye. Your purchase helps support NPR programming. Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title Indigo Subtitle In Search of the Color That Seduced the World Author Catherine E.
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