BUAISOU Brooklyn

BUAISOU is an indigo artisanal collective based in Tokushima, the center of indigo culture in Japan. We harvest our own indigo leaves there and compost them into “sukumo,” which had been a popular dye before synthetic indigo became widely available in the 19th century. Using a traditional technique of fermenting sukumo in ash lye, calcium hydroxide, and wheat bran, we create a so-called “hell vat (jigokudate).” The garments dyed in this 100% natural vat turn indo deep and luminous “Japan Blue,” and they can be worn or washed with white garments without staining. BUAISOU Brooklyn holds various workshops with the sukumo vat in Bushwick, Brooklyn.