Indigo Dyed Bicolor Linen Stole

Our Botanical Dye Collection began with a simple curiosity: what kind of texture and color would emerge if linen yarn, made from plants nurtured by nature, were dyed using pigments extracted from other plants?

For this stole, we used a natural dye extracted from the flower buds of the Japanese pagoda tree (Enju, Styphnolobium japonicum), a plant long associated with longevity and good fortune in Japan.

One version is woven from indigo-dyed linen yarn and then overdyed with Enju. The other is woven from persimmon tannin-dyed yarn before receiving the same Enju dye treatment.

Traditional Japanese indigo dyeing offers an extraordinary range of blues, each with its own name, created by differences in dye concentration, the number of dye baths, and dyeing techniques. Colors such as Kamenozoki, Asagi, and Hanada are just a few examples.

For this stole, we selected a classic Ai Blue as the base indigo color.

When overdyed with Enju, which produces a warm yellow, the blue and yellow naturally blend to create a rich, vibrant green with remarkable depth.

The second stole begins with persimmon tannin-dyed yarn. 

After weaving, it is also overdyed with Enju, transforming the original earthy brown into a beautifully nuanced new shade.

The warp yarns are first dyed with either indigo or persimmon tannin before being set on the loom. The weft changes color halfway through the weaving process, creating a distinctive bi-color design. The first half is woven with undyed white weft yarn, while the second half uses weft yarn dyed to match the warp.

This weaving technique creates two different expressions within a single stole: one half has a subtle chambray effect with iridescent depth, while the other presents a solid, uniform color.

By layering one natural dye over another, each stole develops a uniquely rich and complex color that cannot be achieved with a single dye alone. Every piece reflects the quiet beauty and depth that only natural botanical dyes can create.

Material

100% Linen

Size

65 cm × 192 cm

Care Instructions

• Machine washable (follow the care label)
• Wash separately in a laundry bag
• Use a mild (neutral) detergent
• Do not tumble dry
• Do not bleach
• Do not use fabric softener