"Shoai Hiyashizome" by Matsue Chiba/ Photo by Shigematsu Yuka (c) FASHION HEADLINE

Chiba Matsue lives in Kurihara City, a mountainous area overlooking Mount Kurikoma.

Indigo fields

Chiba Matsue, the successor of authentic indigo dyeing/ Photo by Shigematsu Yuka (c) FASHION HEADLINE

Chiba Matsue, the successor of authentic indigo dyeing/ Photo by Shigematsu Yuka (c) FASHION HEADLINE

In front of Chiba Matsue's workshop/ Photo by Shigematsu Yuka (c) FASHION HEADLINE

Looking out from Chiba Matsue's workshop/ Photo by Shigematsu Yuka (c) FASHION HEADLINE

Indigo flowers growing next to Chiba Matsue's workshop/ Photo by Shigematsu Yuka (c) FASHION HEADLINE

Following the advice of her grandmother, the indigo was harvested from the tips of the leaves that were not damaged by the mud./ Photo by Shigematsu Yuka (c) FASHION HEADLINE

Next to the workshop is a facility run by Kurihara City called "Irando Monji."/ Photo by Shigematsu Yuka (c) FASHION HEADLINE

Matsue's indigo dyeing ranges from pale blue to deep blue.

Indigo thread in Matsue's workshop