The legendary source of Indigo gave it its name – literally ‘Indian’. The leaves of trees from the Indigofera family, prevalent there, could be fermented to produce a beautiful dye as well as a pigment. Nowadays we use mineral pigments for their superior light fastness but this evocative colour properly  earns its presence in a well judged colour range. Traditionally oil paints were used to decorate with deep colours as they could ‘manage’ the pigment loading. Today our taste for a matt finish means we embrace the powdery rather than shiny look you get from rendering these colours in emulsion and this colour takes on a wonderful velvety feel.