Shibori Tie-Dye Cotton Placemat — Indigo Blue | Set of 4 | KORISSA

A set of four cotton placemats hand-dyed using the shibori technique — fabric bound, folded, and submerged in natural indigo dye to create a vertical stripe pattern of deep indigo blue and natural white, with soft gradations where the dye bleeds and fades. Fringe edges on all four sides. Non-slip white backing. Because each placemat is hand-dyed individually, no two are identical — the pattern shifts slightly from piece to piece, and the set reads as a family rather than a uniform. Designed and curated by KORISSA, handmade by Fair Trade artisans in Bangladesh.

Shibori & Indigo — One of the Oldest Textile Traditions in the World

Shibori is a Japanese word for a family of hand-dyeing techniques that have been practiced across Asia for over a thousand years. The principle is simple and ancient: bind, fold, twist, or compress fabric before submerging it in dye, so that the bound areas resist the color and the unbound areas absorb it. The result is a pattern that is simultaneously precise and unpredictable — controlled by the hand that binds, but shaped by the dye, the water, the time, and the particular way the fabric holds or releases.

Indigo is the dye that has traveled furthest in human history — from the indigo plants of South Asia and West Africa to the denim of the American West, from the robes of Japanese samurai to the work clothes of European peasants. It is a color associated with depth, calm, and the quiet authority of things that last. In many cultures, indigo-dyed textiles were considered protective — the deep blue a barrier against harm, a sign of care and intention in the making.

At the table, a shibori placemat does something that printed or woven textiles cannot: it carries the evidence of a human hand. The vertical stripes are not printed — they are the result of a specific binding decision, a specific immersion time, a specific moment in the dyeing process. Each placemat is a record of its own making.

How It Improves Your Daily Life

A placemat does more than protect the table. It defines the place — it tells each person at the table where they belong, and it gives the meal a frame. The shibori indigo pattern is calm enough to work with any tableware — white ceramic, natural wood, terracotta, linen — and strong enough to anchor the table visually without competing with the food. The fringe edges soften the rectangle and give it a handmade quality that reads immediately as intentional, not mass-produced. The non-slip backing keeps the placemat in place through the meal.

A set of four covers a standard table for four — or two settings with room for serving dishes. They wash well, dry quickly, and get better with use as the indigo softens and the fringe settles.

Why Natural Cotton & Indigo?

Natural cotton is breathable, absorbent, and durable — it handles spills, washes easily, and softens with every wash without losing its structure. Natural indigo dye is plant-derived and biodegradable — it fades gradually and gracefully over time, deepening the character of the textile rather than degrading it. A shibori placemat dyed in natural indigo does not look worse with age; it looks more itself.

Fair Trade Artisan-Made

Designed and curated by KORISSA, hand-dyed by Fair Trade artisans in Bangladesh. Fair wages, safe working conditions, community investment. Each placemat is bound and dyed by hand — slight variations in pattern, color depth, and fringe length are inherent to the shibori process. No two placemats are identical.

How to Use & Style It

• Use as a placemat for everyday meals or for a set table
• Pairs naturally with white ceramic, terracotta, natural wood, and linen
• Works as a tray liner, a small table runner, or a surface protector for a side table or shelf
• The indigo blue works in any season — cool and fresh in summer, deep and grounding in winter

Details & Care

• Set of 4 placemats | 100% Natural Cotton | Hand-dyed shibori indigo | Fringe edges | Non-slip white backing
• Color: Indigo blue and natural white — slight variation between pieces | Fair Trade | Zero Waste | Handmade in Bangladesh by KORISSA
• Care: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle. Hang to dry or tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Iron on low if needed. Indigo may bleed slightly on first wash — wash separately.