Indigo Shade Map

💙 Call For Indigo & Madder Samples 🧡

Indigo Shade Map is excited to share an open call from Edith Sandström, who recently began a postdoctoral research project using stable isotope mass spectrometry to study the provenance of heritage dyes. Her research begins with indigo and madder, exploring how this method can reveal not only dye identification but also insights into provenance, trade relations, and cultural exchange.

To build this work, Edith is seeking geographically diverse, well-documented reference materials of indigo and madder. She invites the natural dye community to contribute small samples (~1 g) from any part of the process—plant material, extraction baths, or dyed objects.

👉 Please read more details in our latest blog post (link in bio) and contact Edith directly at [email protected].

🌿 Indigo Shade Map is a platform for sharing stories of natural dye and indigo practices worldwide. If you have a project, story, or open call you’d like to share—or if you’re seeking support from the community—please reach out to us.

📸 Photo credit: Edith Sandström & indigo samples submitted by Samorn Sanixay

INTERN TAKE OVER:
Peaceful Greetings
My here my name is Amanda and you can call me Ama.

I am honored & excited to introduce myself as the 2025 Indigo Shade Map Intern & Indigo Apprentice. I will be posting to keep the community updated on the amazing work we will be taking part in this summer.

Additionally, Here are some cool photos of one of our dedicated apprentices who volunteered to help me complete the remaining part of the our first harvest of the summer

Wednesday we gathered the final 29lbs pounds of fresh indigo by hand from Farm Alliance’s Black Butterfly Teaching Farm, where the seedlings were originally started and transplanted by Blue Light Junction.
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This program is rooted in hands-on, experiential learning—guiding participants through the full cycle of indigo (Polygonum tinctorium, or Jjok, 쪽) cultivation, harvest, and pigment-making. More than just technical training, it nurtures values of community, resilience, and sustainability, while honoring the rich cultural traditions connected to indigo. This program is rooted primarily in Korean and Japanese indigo traditions, reflecting the background of program lead Rosa Chang, who studied extensively in both regions. The species of indigo used—Polygonum tinctorium—is native to East Asia and central to many of the practices taught during the sessions. This makes the apprenticeship especially meaningful for those who wish to not only learn how to make pigment from the indigo plant, but also understand the deeper cultural stories and heritage carried within these traditional methods.

We’ll be sharing more updates about this journey on my personal blog and through Blue Light Junction. Be sure to subscribe to Indigo Shade Map to stay in the loop!

#쪽염색

.lightjunction

How was your Earth Day?
We’re excited to share the final chapter of Julia’s indigo journey! In this post, Julia explores the rich culture and stories of her home region, Normandy. She highlights flax—one of the region’s most well-known fiber plants—and delves into the fascinating history of woad, the traditional European indigo plant that was once widely grown not only in northern Europe but also across parts of western and northern Asia.

Enjoy reading Julia’s indigo story, and don’t forget to explore more woad tales through our interactive map!

“At the end of the season I leave the roots of my plants in place and as it decays, it is supporting wildlife and acts as a cover-crop to avoid erosion. All in all it increases efficiency and invites a circular practice. I sing, dance and play with my plants, especially in the nursery of the greenhouse.”

From Julia’s indigo story in the Indigo Plants and Practice section — I hope you all take a moment to read about Julia’s beautiful relationship with her plants and her inspiring indigo practices.