Natalia, better known as ‘the girl with the blue hands’, is an indigo dyer based in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Natural dyeing techniques have been developed across the globe centuries ago. Indigo dyeing in particular has a rich history in both Mexico and Japan, where locally sourced xiuquilitl, or ai (藍), was a valuable commodity. It was not until synthetic replacements became widely available that the ancient craft of aizome started dwindling, only to resurface in recent years.

Aizome is a lesson in patience and wabi-sabi: one learns through trial and error, never quite sure of the final result. The dye changes from blue to green to blue again, as if by magic, but it may take 30 dips or more to get the darkest shades of indigo. No matter how precise the technique, no two pieces will ever be the same.

Check out Natalia’s one-of-a-kind designs on her Instagram.