By Chia-Lin Wang & Flora Tang, New York Hakka Indigo Cultural Ambassador
Last May, the Hakka Association of New York invited the renowned “Taiping Blue” team from Taiwan to present a series of indigo dyeing cultural workshops. Inspired by their visit, the “New York Hakka Indigo Cultural Ambassador” team was born. Under the leadership of President Ai-Lin Chung, the association took on the mission of preserving and promoting traditional Hakka indigo dyeing in New York. Since last November, the team has hosted four in-person workshops and an additional virtual session with Taiping Blue. From preparing dye vats and sourcing materials to providing lunch for the team, the Hakka Association of New York handled everything with dedication and care—an investment of both effort and resources.
Among the most dedicated were the members of the “Vat-Building Team,” who not only stored dye vats and materials in their home garages but also transported heavy equipment to every workshop, often enlisting the help of family members. With meticulous care, the team fermented the dye liquid, monitored its pH to stay within the ideal range of 11–12, and even added rice wine and glucose to enhance its performance and reduce odor.
On June 15, 2025, the Hakka Association of New York and the North America Taiwanese Women’s Association – NY co-hosted the first official Hakka Indigo Cultural Experience Workshop at the Culture Center of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York. After welcome remarks from TECO Director Yung-Fung Chen, NATWA-NY President Tsui-Chuan Chang, and Hakka Association President Ai-Lin Chung, Ambassador Flora Tang introduced the historical background of Taiwan’s indigo dyeing traditions, emphasizing how this practice reflects both craftsmanship and the daily wisdom of the Hakka people. Instructor Chia-Lin Wang followed with a hands-on tutorial covering all the essential steps—from fabric preparation and binding to soaking, dyeing, oxidation, neutralization, and care instructions.
Participants were fascinated to learn how fabric’s fiber density affects dye absorption, and were delighted to watch the fabric change from green to blue during oxidation. Unwrapping their bound pieces was a moment of pure joy, like striking the lottery, as they unveiled their one-of-a-kind blue-and-white creations. Unlike synthetic dyes, these naturally hand-dyed pieces—each a large square scarf—carry a living quality and can be treasured for years to come.
The generous knowledge-sharing and collaborative spirit of the “New York Hakka Indigo Cultural Ambassadors” allowed this team, charged with passing down Hakka culture, to grow rapidly. This workshop not only offered participants a multi-sensory aesthetic experience but also expanded their cultural horizons, proving that traditional Hakka indigo dyeing can thrive far beyond Taiwan.
Looking ahead, four young and experienced members of the Ambassador team will lead the upcoming East Coast Summer Camp workshop in July. They will introduce Hakka indigo dyeing—in English—to nearly 200 first- and second-generation Chinese American students. Stay tuned!
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