Omani experts train Ghor Safi women on extracting natural indigo dye

AMMAN — Three experts from Oman concluded a five-day visit to Jordan on Thursday during which they shared their expertise on the ancient tradition of indigo harvesting, processing and dyeing with members of Ghor El Safi Women’s Association, according to a UNESCO statement.

The visit was within a larger project funded by DROSOS and implemented by UNESCO to empower rural women in the Jordan Valley.

With UNESCO’s support, members of Ghor El Safi Women’s Association have been reviving ancient knowledge on natural dyeing by using colours extracted from natural resources — such as mud from the Dead Sea and local plants — to paint their handicrafts, the statement said.

The first day of the visit was entirely dedicated to harvesting the indigo, a plant used as a natural source for the colour blue, specifically known for its deep tone.

The second day was dedicated to the extraction and the third one to the solidification, according to the statement.