The blue dye indigo has been the world's most important dyestuff for almost 5,000 years. Indigo is the first book to cover in detail, at both the local and international level, all aspects of the subject -- historical, agricultural, and botanical; chemical and technological; commercial and economic; indigo's various uses in textiles and its many sociological, medicinal, folkloric, and other connotations.This volume pays particular attention to indigo's history as a trade commodity, including its commercial exploitation by the European colonial powers. The author examines the different plant sources and compares production and dyeing methods used in different cultures. The various patterning techniques used with indigo on a wide range of textiles are described, as are some uses of the dyestuff in traditional medicine and religious practices. The book looks at the modern application of indigo, not least its continuing sartorial appeal, particularly in ever-popular blue denim, and its use by textile artists and craftsmen.Indigo includes 150 color and 50 black/white illustrations.