3/100. I love indigo. Oh, the stories it has surrounding it. The places, the people, the literature, the history…some romantic and arty, others horrifying, savage and turbulent. The Indigofera tinctoria species, native to the tropics, was domesticated in India. From Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Britain, Mesoamerica, Peru, Iran, Africa and even America, everybody used indigo. Indigo was the foundation of centuries-old textile traditions throughout the world. Because of its high value as a trading commodity, indigo was often referred to as blue gold. Even Newton used “indigo” to describe one of the two new primary colors he added to the five he had originally named, in his revised account of the rainbow in 1675. Today, sadly, most of the indigo used for dying cloth is synthetic. But as an Indian, I would like to believe that, I still wear indigo fabrics which are organically grown and dyed.
This was a fine cotton saree given to me by very dear friends on my 40th. I have worn it many times and enjoyed the way it drapes and feels against my skin.