Shibori Indigo Dyeing

Shibori comes from the root word, “shiboru,” which means “to wring, squeeze, press.”  The use of indigo dyeing techniques in Japan developed strongly in the Edo period, and Shibori was used to make clothing beautiful again in order to extend its life.  Over time, the dyeing techniques were used to create kimono cloth for the upper classes while simultaneously remaining a folk tradition.  

There are many types of Shibori techniques, but most involve folding, pressing, and binding the cloth in order to create different patterns.  Indigo has been used in Japan since the 10th century, and the process involves fermenting the indigo leaves, mixing them in a vat with other natural materials like wheat bran and sake before using it as a dye.  To achieve the rich, dark blue color, cloth may be dipped up to 40 times!