Chennai, India — As part of Madras Art Weekend 2025, Collage is proud to present a groundbreaking indigo installation by 11.11 / eleven eleven, one of India’s most respected craft-driven, natural-dye fashion houses. The showcase marks the debut of the brand’s plant-based Indigo Paste, a first-of-its-kind innovation that enables printing and large-format mark-making without the use of chemicals, expanding the possibilities of natural dye artistry.
A New Chapter in Natural Indigo at Collage
For years, Collage has championed independent Indian design and material storytelling. This installation reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting craft-led innovation and interdisciplinary thinking. 11.11’s Indigo Paste represents a significant advancement in natural dye processes — transforming indigo from a dyeing-only pigment into a medium for printing, drawing and experimental art. Collage is honored to serve as the first space in Chennai to present this pioneering material.
The Installation Experience
At the heart of the showcase is The Indigo Flower, an interactive activation hosted at Collage in which participants walked through the Indigo Paste to create footprint-led artworks. These large indigo canvases — draped, textured and layered with movement — now form part of an evolving archive that documents gesture, community and craft. Select pieces from this activation will remain on display through Madras Art Weekend from 3rd December, 2025 to 6th December, 2025.
Celebrating Craft Research & Contemporary Design
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The installation builds on over a decade of research within 11.11’s Colour Lab, which has long explored plant-based pigments such as indigo, sappan wood, rubia, marigold, pomegranate and harda. This spirit of experimentation continues through their FW’25 collection, presented at Collage, featuring abstract shibori, miniature bandhani and fine tie-resist techniques across silk, velvet, wool blends and cotton.
“Collage has always been a space where craft meets contemporary culture. Hosting 11.11’s Indigo Installation allows us to highlight the power of materials, the future of sustainable textiles and the evolving language of Indian design. As Chennai’s design landscape grows more engaged with experimental art, we see this installation as a marker of how tradition can be reimagined for a new generation.” – Says Lata Madhu, Founder Collage
Exhibition Details
| Overview | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Indigo Installation by 11.11 / eleven eleven for Madras Art Weekend |
| Organizer | Collage, Chennai |
| Dates | 3 December 2025 – 6 December 2025 |
| Installation Highlight | Debut of plant-based Indigo Paste enabling chemical-free printing and mark-making |
| Special Activation | “The Indigo Flower” – a participatory walk-through creating footprint-led canvases |
| Venue | Collage, Chennai |
| Focus | Natural dye innovation, material research, sustainable design, community-led art |
A Moment for Art, Craft & Innovation
This showcase speaks to themes that resonate deeply with Collage’s curatorial vision — material innovation, community participation, sustainability and artistic inquiry. It is a story of how design houses are pushing boundaries and redefining the future of craft.
