Sanxia Dye Workshop and Sanxia Indigo Dyeing Center Introduction
Mincu Street, formerly known as Sanjiao Yong Street, is a historical area in Sanxia that became a hub for the dyeing industry during the Qing Dynasty. The local dye houses were once thriving, and today, Mincu Street still retains many buildings from that era, with the word "Dye House" engraved on their exteriors, creating a fascinating and historically rich landscape. Due to the decline of indigo dyeing after the popularity of Western suits and kimonos during the Japanese occupation period, the craft has been nearly lost for decades. The Sanxia Cultural and Educational Association has taken action to preserve the indigo dyeing culture by establishing the Sanxia Dye Workshop, which is dedicated to maintaining and promoting this heritage. Indigo dyeing is one of Taiwan's traditional fabric dyeing techniques, using the indigo plant, once a major economic crop in Taiwan, as a dye. Through a complex dyeing process, it produces fabrics with a blue and white pattern. The Sanxia Dye Workshop primarily offers services including indigo dyeing classes, DIY indigo dyeing experiences, and indigo dyed products. It also features an online store for product purchases and experience bookings. Various DIY indigo dyeing experience packages are available for different audiences, typically lasting 1 to 2 hours and including an introduction to Sanxia indigo dyeing, teaching of dyeing skills, and handkerchief dyeing. Although the dyeing industry in Sanxia faces decline, the local community is actively working to preserve this traditional culture. The Sanxia Dye Workshop (Indigo Dyeing Exhibition Center) was established to preserve indigo dyeing culture, and here, visitors can not only learn about it but also have the opportunity to experience DIY indigo dyeing and create their own unique indigo products!
