Hello future dyer!
This kit is built to be the highest quality on the market!
I am a professional natural dyer, researcher and educator. I've dyed with dozens of different style indigo vats and I've found this recipe to be the easiest to maintain and most supportive for beginner and intermediate natural dyers while posing the fewest health and safety risks. I agonized over sourcing THE BEST ingredients especially the indigo itself.
Our indigo is fresh, extracted in the USA from plants grown in the USA! Ask any other indigo supplier where they source their color - VERY FEW are actually using natural indigo. The 'natural' dye market is flush with fraud. When I tried sourcing pigment for this kit, I found that every international source I could get ahold of was selling either synthetic indigo, produced from fossil fuels - labeled as natural - or had adulterated their product with synthetic indigo, a cheap alternative to boost the color output. I was lucky to be able to develop a relationship with an American producer, tour their facilities and fields and be able to offer an incredible, natural product.
This kit was designed by myself - from the layout to the contents. All the components are gathered, processed, printed and assembled and shipped out to you by Becca and myself, right here from our workshop in Los Angeles. Please, reach out to us if you have any questions.
We have our hardwood clamp pieces locally custom-milled from oak. These are not popsicle sticks or tongue depressors. They are meant to last a lifetime. I have some of the earliest ones I ever made from over 10 years ago that have been into and out of an indigo vat hundreds if not thousands of times and they still work great!
We want you to have great success with your dyeing adventures and encourage you to reach out if you have any questions. I have answered a lot of them already and they're available HERE:
https://www.naturaldyekits.com/natural-dye-questions-and-answers
For more in-depth discussion and instructions BEYOND what's included in the kit, check out the article on my website HERE :
https://www.grahamkeegan.com/indigo-vat-basics
Welcome to the world of indigo - I hope you find it as beautiful and inspiring as I have.
Graham
THIS KIT INCLUDES:
Naturally derived indigo pigment (60g Extract from the species Indigofera tinctoria) Grown in the USA
All necessary activation and setting agents
Protective gloves
A blank cotton bandana
Wood clamps and Hemp cord
Illustrated instructions
YOU WILL NEED:
A container for your vat liquid - I recommend something at least 4 gallons - this can be made from any material except aluminum and copper which corrode at alkaline pH and can effect the quality of the dyeing.
A container for rinsing - like a big bowl or another bucket of water.
Hot water (simmering if you've got it)
TIPS & INFO:
For best results use plant-based fabrics.
Dyes up to 5 lbs of fabric or a dozen garments depending on coverage and shade.
No smells carry over from the raw pigment, through the vat onto the finished, washed items.
Prep your vat then wait 24 hours for it to mature before dyeing.
Vat stays viable for weeks, just stir, let the vat ingredients re-settle then dip!
WARNING: This kit contains Indigotin, Calcium Hydroxide, Iron Sulfate and Citric Acid which can be harmful if used improperly! Don't eat the powders and don't drink the vat liquid! Wear the gloves if you're sticking your hands in the vat. Please, follow the instructions carefully.
Conforms to ASTM D-4236
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
Access FAQs, browse tutorials on dyeing patterns and share your work at www.naturaldyekits.com.
FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING we have been experiencing very erratic delivery times. Sometimes it goes very smoothly, sometimes packages go idle for months. We are still happy to ship internationally, but just want to give fair warning that we are not able to provide any reliable location and status information for your items once they leave the Los Angeles International Distribution Center. There may be very lengthy delays in receiving your order. We have no control and very limited tracking information available for international orders once they leave our workshop.