Indigo: From Mummies to Blue Jeans. by Jenny Balfour-Paul

Produced from plants by a process akin to alchemy, indigo has a unique chemistry that renders it compatible with all natural fibres. From the time of the ancient Egyptians it made an incredible impact worldwide as the world's only source of blue of every hue, and was also indispensable for creating a glorious range of colours when combined with other natural dyes. It is hard to imagine the incredible impact indigo must have made on the many civilizations that chanced upon it. This classic study, reissued with a new final chapter, examines this extraordinary dye from all angles: the historical, agricultural and botanical origins of the different plant sources; different production and dyeing methods; commerce and economics; various patterning techniques used on a wide range of beautiful textiles; indigo's continued presence in folklore, art and alternative medicine; and its iconic status as the dye that makes blue jeans blue. The accumulation of over twenty years research on the subject, Indigo: Egyptian Mummies to Blue Jeans is the richly told story of a commodity that has been central to international trade and textile production for centuries, across time and cultures. Richly illustrated throughout with stunning details and scenes from around the world, this is the definitive study of the fascinating dye behind blue denim.