The Indigo Project: Nurturing Tradition and Innovation in Flores
Back in 2019, we had an exciting project on the island of Flores where we worked together with bamboo farmers, along with Indobamboo and the Environmental Bamboo Foundation, to cultivate a shade-tolerant species of indigo, called Strobilanthes cusia. Since then, we had not had the chance to re-examine the project, while weavers in Flores were short of indigo paste.
After long delay, we headed to Ngada, a region in the center of Flores earlier this March to check the gardens and help the local farmers develop an indigo dye business. During the pre-Covid project, we had trained Alex and Herman to process the indigo leaves into paste by hand, but they now wanted to make their business more efficient, time and cost wise. Our field staff, I Made Maduarta and Made Moyo met them to help build two new vats, , each with a volume of 1300 litres. These indigo soaking vats are also equipped with a pump so that, after the leaves have been removed and the slaked lime added, the water can be agitated to introduce air until the indigo pigment starts to appear. With the previous bamboo-and-tarpaulin vat, Alex and Herman had to manually agitate the indigo water with a water scooper. Now, with these new vats and the water pump, they can produce up to thirty kilograms of indigo paste at a time.
The bamboo vat that was previously used by Alex and Herman.
The two new indigo vats to replace the bamboo vat.
The next question is about the best and safest way to pack this indigo paste. When we talked to Alex and Herman about the production of their indigo paste, they mentioned they usually packed it in a black plastic bag with no seal. When indigo paste is packed this way, it allows carbon dioxide into the paste which turns the slaked lime to limestone and makes the pigment grey. After several discussions, we agreed to supply Alex and Herman with a vacuum sealer and sealable plastic bags. With these vacuum-sealed bags, the slaked lime in the indigo paste remains active and weavers who receive these indigo paste will find it easier to set a vat and dye their threads.
New indigo paste from our indigo-making process with the pump.
Vacuum-sealed indigo paste.
After visiting Alex and Herman, we managed to see the indigo garden, located in the hills of Bajawa. The tall bamboo swayed gently in the breeze as we made our way through the vibrant landscape, the air thick with the earthy scent of soil and nature's growth. Five years ago, Alex and Herman had planted 400 Strobilanthes, a simple act that now seemed to hold so much more weight. As we stood there, surrounded by rows of flourishing indigo shrubs, there was a quiet moment of awe. The garden was alive, the rich purple hues of the indigo leaves stretching towards the sky, signalling the life and vitality that had taken root in the land. The journey had been long, filled with challenges and uncertainty, but seeing the fruits of their labor in full bloom was nothing short of moving. It felt like a tangible reminder of how small acts of care and patience can create something lasting, something beautiful. There was a shared sense of pride among us, not just for the plants, but for the connection we had forged with this land, and with each other, in nurturing these seeds into something real. The garden had grown, and so had we.
The 400 seedlings of Strobilanthes cusia that we planted back in 2019 in the bamboo forest
Healthy Strobilanthes cusia marked by its rich green colour.
From the garden, we made the trip to the village where we met one of the first weavers that had worked with us back in 1998. Katarina Paba is a master weaver from Bajawa who made the exquisite Lawo Butu, a beaded textile with an ancestral ship on a field of elephants. She does not weave anymore, but has passed her knowledge to her daughter, Maria. We were so delighted, not just to see Katarina, but also knowing that her daughter is continuing the tradition.
I Made Maduarta and Katarina Paba
This journey back to Flores has been more than just a project update. It has been a reminder of the enduring power of collaboration and the deep bonds we have built with local communities. Seeing the indigo garden thrive after five years of growth and witnessing how the new vats improved production for Alex and Herman filled us with a sense of accomplishment and pride. But the most touching part of the trip was reconnecting with the weavers, particularly Katarina, whose knowledge and artistry continue through her daughter, Maria. Our time in Flores has deepened our connection to this place and its people, and we leave with a sense of hope, knowing that this project has created ripples of positive change that will continue to grow for years to come.
