Aizome is the traditional Japanese art of indigo dyeing. Sho aizome is a specific, time-honored method that creates beautiful, deep blue hues through a natural fermentation process. This widely used technique involves only natural ingredients such as fermented indigo leaves (sukumo), lye, and wheat flour, and avoids chemical agents. The fabric is repeatedly dipped and exposed to air to deepen the color. The resulting textile is highly valued for its rich, long-lasting color and its unique properties, including being antibacterial, deodorizing, and insect-repellent.