Introducing classic indigo and indigo dyed items from "BLUE BLUE JAPAN "

The distinctive "blue" color
We have always been fascinated by the indigo and blue colors of workwear, and we are particular about the blue that appears over time. Based on the traditional Japanese honnai colors of hand dye and indigo hand dye, we use dyes that resonate with this, and we are seeking a blue color that is unique to BLUE BLUE JAPAN.

In 1875, British scientist Robert Atkinson, who was invited by the Meiji government to visit Japan, mentioned that the streets of Japan at that time were filled with "indigo blue" and called this indigo color "Japan Blue" in his essay "Theory of Indigo." He wrote, "In Japan, indigo is used as a dye in extremely large quantities...blue clothing is worn throughout the country." Fifteen years after Atkinson, in 1890, Lafcadio Hearn (later known as Koizumi Yakumo), who set foot on Japanese soil, also described Japan as a country filled with a mysterious blue, with "the whole atmosphere slightly blue and extraordinarily clear," and "the houses under blue roofs were small, the shops with blue curtains were small, and the people smiling in blue kimonos were small."

References: Japanese Indigo, edited by Yukio Yoshioka

At BLUE BLUE JAPAN, we use either indigo or indigo dyeing depending on the product.
Indigo dyeing, which has been traditionally practiced in Japan since ancient times, is a dyeing technique that uses the indigo plant. The most common varieties are those from the Polygonaceae family called Tadeai (Japanese indigo) and Aitade (Japanese indigo). As indigo dyeing is made from natural plants, it takes time from cultivation to processing, and it is an extremely difficult dyeing technique in terms of stabilizing and maintaining the color and dyeing method. By dyeing with care and time by craftsmen, the color becomes more stable and richer, and the texture unique to natural dyes is created.


Indigo dyeing uses a synthetic dye made artificially. Compared to indigo dyeing, it is easier to manage and has the advantage of being able to dye evenly without unevenness.
At BLUE BLUE JAPAN, all indigo dyeing is done hand dye, one by one, by skilled craftsmen. The handiwork of skilled craftsmen allows them to achieve textures and colors that cannot be achieved by machines.

As you wear them, the impurities will naturally fall off, allowing you to enjoy the deep, beautiful indigo color. It has long been said that indigo has antibacterial, insect repellent, and UV protection properties (although not completely).
Because there is little color transfer, the deep indigo color of honnai creates a beautiful contrast with white, so it is sometimes used only in parts.

We use synthetic dyes that reproduce the natural indigo color. The dyes are dyed by skilled artisans using traditional Japanese dyeing methods.
The process of soaking in dye and drying is repeated several times until the indigo color appears.