Jill Lowe Facts and Froth
Alchemy and awe collide in the bubbling vats of fermenting indigo. How so? What is so mysterious? Knowing a little of the extraordinary process needed to produce the magnificent sixth color of the rainbow will illustrate the justification for the awe in the vats. Because, until late 19th century when synthetic indigo became available, any extracting of the dye from the tiny leaves of the indigo plant was extremely difficult This color of deep midnight is intoxicating and no color has been prized so highly or for so long, with such a power to bewitch.
Who would know that the magic of indigo dyeing, combined with the french phrase “bleu de Genes” (blue of Genoa) - referring to the Genoese navy’s durable pants sold though the Harbor of Genoa, would give us BLUE JEANS? It was those pants for sailors from Genoa around the1800’s, combined with cloth from the French town “de Nimes” (denim) which would give us the ubiquitous piece of clothing.