Our colors - Atelier Indochine

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■ All-Natural Dyestuffs Used

All our clothes are hand dyed using natural dyes described in detail throughout this web site.

草木染め　五倍子（虫こぶ）／Japanese sumac (gall) — 五倍子（虫こぶ）／Japanese sumac (gall)

草木染め　コチニール（サボテンにつく介殻虫）／Cochineal — コチニール（サボテンにつく介殻虫）／Cochineal

草木染め　インド茜（根っこ）／Madder — インド茜（根っこ）／Madder

草木染め　ミロバランの実／Myrobalans — ミロバランの実／Myrobalans

柿渋／Japanese persimmon tannin　草木染め — 柿渋／Japanese persimmon tannin

草木染め　ラック(花没薬などの木につく介殻虫の巣）／Lac — ラック(花没薬などの木につく介殻虫の巣）／Lac

草木染め　檳榔子（ビンロウジ・椰子の木の実）／Palm tree nut — 檳榔子（ビンロウジ・椰子の木の実）／Palm tree nut

▷For indigo, please visit the “Indigo” page within.

■Dyeing process

1. Extracting pigment
The natural materials used as dyes (plant leaves, tree bark, tree galls, insect shells, . . .) are crushed or cut up when dry into small pieces, placed in a pot and boiled in water for 30 minutes. The water is then strained to remove the dye extract. This process is repeated several times, until all the dye is extracted from the original raw material.

コットンリネンガーセのブラウス　のり抜き後、洗いをかけたところ — 2.Preparing garments for dyeing
Garments are washed thoroughly in hot water to remove any starch, oil, dirt or other contaminants that may be on the fabric.

2) 火にかけながら、染めるものを入れて煮ます。30分ほど。濃さをみながら時間を調節します。 — 3. Add pre-wetted fabric or yarn to the dyeing vessel and stir gently. Simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally. Rinse the material well with tap water to remove any excess dye.

4) 媒染液にひたして、染料を定着させます。Then, the clothing is removed and placed into a mordant bath for 30 minutes. — 4. The garment is removed and placed in a mordant bath (see below) for 30 minutes.

５、３→４の工程を繰り返して、濃く染め重ねます。 — 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4, until the desired shades results.

6. Wash with mild detergent, and hang to dry in shade.

■About mordant

Mordants are color fixatives, often a powdered metal, such as alum or iron, which “fixes” the dye to a material. The type of mordant used determines the final color.

We use mordants that we make ourselves from vinegar, rusted iron nails, and food-grade alum, since some mordants (such as, copper and chrome) can be toxic.