Startups
Daufuskie Blues is a small organic company that creates beautiful textiles dyed with natural indigo. It is located on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, which is only accessible by boat or ferry. The company was founded in 2013 by friends Rhonda Davis and Leanne McJunkin Coulter, who share a passion for indigo and its history.
Daufuskie Blues offers a variety of products, such as scarves, shawls, pillows, table runners, napkins, placemats, coasters, bags and recycled clothing. All of their products are hand-dyed with organic indigo powder that they mix with fructose sources like bananas, honey or henna. The dyeing process involves dipping the fabric into a vat of indigo and then exposing it to air to oxidize and turn blue. The more dips, the darker the blue.
Daufuskie Blues’ products are unique because they reflect the rich cultural heritage of Daufuskie Island and its Gullah Geechee community. Indigo was once a major cash crop in South Carolina and Georgia before the American Revolution. It was grown by enslaved Africans who brought their knowledge and skills of indigo cultivation and dyeing from West Africa. Daufuskie Blues honors this legacy by using traditional techniques and natural materials to create their textiles.
Daufuskie Blues’ products range from $15 to $150 depending on the size and complexity of the item. They sell their products online through their website as well as at their studio in the historic Mary Field School, where Pat Conroy once taught. They also offer workshops and tours for visitors who want to learn more about indigo dyeing and Daufuskie Island’s history.
Daufuskie Blues’ main competitors are other companies that produce indigo-dyed textiles using synthetic or natural dyes. Some examples are Shibori Dragon, Graham Keegan and Botanical Colors. These companies differ from Daufuskie Blues in terms of their location, product range, pricing and dyeing methods.
Daufuskie Blues offers a variety of products, such as scarves, shawls, pillows, table runners, napkins, placemats, coasters, bags and recycled clothing. All of their products are hand-dyed with organic indigo powder that they mix with fructose sources like bananas, honey or henna. The dyeing process involves dipping the fabric into a vat of indigo and then exposing it to air to oxidize and turn blue. The more dips, the darker the blue.
Daufuskie Blues’ products are unique because they reflect the rich cultural heritage of Daufuskie Island and its Gullah Geechee community. Indigo was once a major cash crop in South Carolina and Georgia before the American Revolution. It was grown by enslaved Africans who brought their knowledge and skills of indigo cultivation and dyeing from West Africa. Daufuskie Blues honors this legacy by using traditional techniques and natural materials to create their textiles.
Daufuskie Blues’ products range from $15 to $150 depending on the size and complexity of the item. They sell their products online through their website as well as at their studio in the historic Mary Field School, where Pat Conroy once taught. They also offer workshops and tours for visitors who want to learn more about indigo dyeing and Daufuskie Island’s history.
Daufuskie Blues’ main competitors are other companies that produce indigo-dyed textiles using synthetic or natural dyes. Some examples are Shibori Dragon, Graham Keegan and Botanical Colors. These companies differ from Daufuskie Blues in terms of their location, product range, pricing and dyeing methods.
Overview
Location
Turkmenistan, Mary Region, Mary