Natural Indigo Dye Furoshiki x BUAISOU

MUSUBI collaborates with BUAISOU, an indigo specialist team, to create Natural Indigo Dye Furoshiki.
BUAISOU handles the entire process—from planting indigo to dyeing—using traditional techniques.
The indigo used is 100% sourced from Tokushima, Japan, a region renowned for Awa-ai (Tokushima indigo dyeing).

There is a well-known story that bushi (samurai) wore indigo-dyed undergarments beneath their armor for its deodorizing, insect-repellent, and antibacterial properties.
Indigo dyeing is an ideal method for Furoshiki, which serves the purposes of wrapping, transporting, and preserving.
The more you use it, the more its color evolves, reflecting your unique usage. Over time, with each wash, the natural lye in the dye gradually surfaces, making your Furoshiki even more special.

Dyer’s knotweed, cultivated by BUAISOU, has been used for indigo dyeing in Japan since ancient times.
The process begins with raising indigo from seeds, fermenting its leaves, and transforming them into fermented indigo leaves, which serve as the base for the dye.
This traditional method is incredibly time-consuming and requires great effort, as the indigo must be carefully stored and fermented in earthenware pots before it is ready to use.

Transforming Indigos to fermented leaves：

After harvesting, the large indigo plants are fanned to remove excess debris. The stems and leaves are then separated and dried. Next, the indigo leaves are spread on a woven mat, moistened with water, and stirred every five days. After each stirring, they are left to rest. This process is repeated 20 times over the course of three months. Once fully fermented, the indigo leaves are finally ready to be used as dye.

Jigokudate (Hellish construction):

Jigokudate" is a traditional method of preparing indigo by mixing ash and fermented indigo leaves into a paste. This method, which uses natural materials like shell ash and fusuma (a type of wheat paste), is known for its grueling, labor-intensive process. The indigo mixture must be stirred daily while monitoring its condition. After about 10 days of preparation, the indigo is ready to be used for dyeing.

Dyeing:

Indigo dyeing encompasses a wide range of techniques, including danzome (layered dyeing), shibori (tie-dye), itajime (sandwich dyeing), rouzuke (Japanese wax resist), and more. Mastering each technique requires considerable practice and skill.

Washing Process After Indigo Dyeing:

The process takes several days to complete and involves steps such as washing in water, soaking in vinegar water, and soaking in hot water, among others.

BUAISOU

BUAISOU is an indigo specialist team based in Kamiita-cho, Tokushima. They manage the entire process—from planting indigo to dyeing—using traditional techniques.
Their fresh indigo dye is produced through the traditional Jigokudate process (Hellish construction), where wood ash, wheat paste, and shell ash are carefully stirred into fermented indigo leaves.
BUAISOU is active worldwide, conducting dyeing workshops, developing original products, creating artworks, and participating in exhibitions, among other activities.