Blue Gold
Indigo, often called “Blue Gold,” has been a symbol of luxury and prestige for centuries. This deep blue dye, derived from the Indigofera plant, was highly prized in ancient India and Egypt. Its production was labor-intensive, involving fermentation and processing of the plant leaves to extract the dye. Due to its complexity and rarity, indigo became a major trade commodity, influencing fashion and art across cultures.
Origin: Indigofera tinctoria
Indigo was so valuable in the 18th century that it was used as a form of currency in trade, and its cultivation played a significant role in the economy of colonial America.
Credits: Flower - Smruti Karalgikar, from The Noun Project