Blue Calico in Tongxiang
Blue Calico was also called “medicine spot cloth” in ancient times and is commonly called “blue embossed cloth”. It is one of folk arts and can be dated back to Qing and Han Dynasties. The varieties of its designs and patterns and range of usage are closely related to the demands of local farmers. Blue printed cloth used to be used as quilt covers, mosquito nets, caps and shoes, etc. It is dyed in a natural plant dye called indigo, so it has good color fastness to sunlight and washing. The more it is washed, the clearer the flower patterns become. The flower patterns are taken from traditional folk patterns, with strong rural flavor and typical national characteristics. With blue and white as the two major colors, blue printed cloth looks bright, clear and vivid, pure and plain, natural and harmonious, elegant and graceful.