How Japan's 800-Year-Old Indigo Dyeing Process Is Still Standing | Still Standing | Business Insider

Natural indigo dye has been used around the world for thousands of years, but the invention of synthetic indigo dye in the 1800s caused the industry to crater. In Japan’s Tokushima Prefecture, only a handful of masters carry on the eight-century-old art of making a unique form of indigo dye called sukumo. But the yearlong process of growing and fermenting natural indigo can’t compete with the efficiency and low cost of synthetic alternatives. Because of this, the denim industry uses about 55,000 tons of synthetic indigo a year, relegating natural indigo to niche uses like limited-edition items. Synthetic indigo requires a slew of toxic chemicals and an excessive amount of water. Industry experts see natural indigo as a sustainable alternative, but can it scale? We visited the Watanabe farm and workshop in Kamiita, Japan, to see how natural indigo is still standing. ----------------------------------------------------- #indigo #traditional #businessinsider #stillstanding MORE VIDEOS: 14 Rare Indian Traditions Stuck In Time | Still Standing Marathon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O030fzDUAO How Indonesia’s Rare Foot-Pressed Tea is Surviving Despite the Odds | Business Insider https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0px4Qwyrk0 Meet The Family Keeping 2000-Year-Old Swat Wood Carving Art Alive In Pakistan | Still Standing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9H_hUaINsA Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.businessinsider.com Business Insider on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider Business Insider on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessinsider Business Insider on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/businessinsider Business Insider on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Business_Insider/5319643143 Business Insider on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessinsider How Japan’s Natural Indigo Dyeing Tradition Survived The Ris