Grown in fields, not laboratories: our indigo supports farmers who support soil health. We only grow with Soil Association verified organic farmers working in direct contact with our living ecosystem.
Farmers are our land stewards and agroecological farmers need support from consumers who understand the critical importance of restoring our environment. In an ecocidal economy obsessed with waste consumerism, we understand the race to maintain gross profits by substituting fossil fuel derived dyes and notice how excited industry is about bio-based, lab-grown alternatives. They are undoubtedly less harmful than the currently favoured mining process. Our question is, what do either do to improve soil health and biodiversity or to support farmers? Does the manufacturing process and price point help curb waste consumerism or perpetuate it?
At Homegrown Colour, we believe working in reciprocity with the land engenders an embodied respect for planetary materials and human labour. We also appreciate the huge role carbon farming practices have in slowing climate breakdown.
Our indigo does not aspire to compete with synthetic nor lab-grown pigment. Instead, we clearly state that it’s a slower process that’s more expensive and difficult to use. Our customers are intelligent, and we hope that by highlighting the huge behavioural bridge we need to build as a species between degenerative and regenerative, our production method will be understood as part of that bridging solution.
A shift of mindset is needed from consumer to restorer and from asking ‘what can I get?’ to ‘what can I give back?’ This is the nature of regeneration that heralds the more equitable, thriving future we all know in our hearts is possible. Our indigo reconnects those who use it with living, field-grown colour. It resonates with the provenance of relief and a sense of ‘it’s going to be ok’, but it’s not for everyone. Initially, and especially during our developmental years, we envisage our dyes being used for small batches of products by eco-conscious brands and experienced dye artisans. To try and compete with high street colour would mean undervaluing our plants and labour while missing the behavioural change that results from material scarcity and expense.
We admit, there’s a tricky balance to strike here because while we’d like our dyes to encourage more judicial usage, we’re not trying to perpetuate elitism or scarcity marketing gimmicks. We’re just finding our way out of an economic system that has for too long relied on exploitation and feel the wisdom of indigo to be a part of that transition, but we’re likely to make mistakes and readjustments along the way! We hope you’ll understand and support us in our endeavour.
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