Wild and Indigo is the handmade textile and clothing label of artist and designer Janna Isbey. Jannas journey began with an immersion into the art world, after leaving a corporate job to study painting and textiles at AUT in Auckland. It was from here that the world of creative possibilities began to open up, and a trip to Japan to study traditional Japanese textiles came about. High in the mountains in a picturesque little town Fujino the opportunity to learn all about natural dyeing with indigo and other plant dyes, shibori pattern making and resist dyeing from a skilled Master indigo Dyer came to fruition. Janna went on to extend her knowledge of handmade textile design to eco printing, silk painting, batik and block printing, techniques learnt from traditional practitioners in India and Bali. Bringing these design skills back to New Zealand provided an exciting opportunity to create beautifully handmade, sustainably created textiles using natural colours derives from plant matter, botanicals and minerals with their own ancient dye histories and holistic health benefits.

Each and every item created by Wild & Indigo can be seen as a unique object, like a piece of art in it’s own right. The pieces are dyed individually in house, under processes that embraces the emergence of distinct characteristics and the beauty of imperfection. The garments and objects are made for people who appreciate this ethos and love creative textiles with a tale. Natural dyeing is a magical process that provides the artist the chance to work like an alchemist, experimenting with beautiful colours and prints, and transferring them to luxurious fabrics.

Janna has since joined forces with her sister in law, Sophie Randrup Isbey, a new mother to produce a collection of hand dyed baby swaddle wraps, cuddly blankets and clothing all made from 100% natural fibres with non toxic plant dyes.