Why We Use 100% Pure Viscose — For the Fabric and the Thread

When we talk about the fabric choices at Indigrey, we are not talking about a decision made for cost or convenience. We are talking about a conclusion arrived at after years of working with different textiles and understanding what each one does — and does not do — for embroidered clothing.

We use 100% pure viscose for our fabric. We use 100% pure viscose for our embroidery thread. Here is why both of those choices matter.

What Viscose Actually Is

Viscose is a natural-origin fibre derived from wood cellulose. It sits in a category between natural fibres like cotton and silk and synthetic fibres. In terms of how it behaves, it is much closer to natural — it breathes, it drapes, it feels soft against the skin, and it absorbs dye deeply.

The viscose we use is sourced directly from established looms in Erode, Tamil Nadu and Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. We work with weavers who produce fabric to a specific weight and weave density that we have established over time through direct experience. The quality is consistent because the source is consistent.

Why Viscose Works So Well for Embroidery

Not every fabric takes embroidery equally well. The interaction between the base fabric and the embroidery thread is a physical relationship — the thread sits on top of the fabric, pulls through it at stitch points, and has to coexist with the weight and movement of the weave beneath it.

Viscose's natural drape is one of the reasons it works so well as a base for embroidery. It does not resist the thread. The fabric moves with the embroidery rather than fighting it, which is why our pieces do not feel stiff or rigid in embroidered sections.

Viscose also holds colour with exceptional depth. When we dye our fabric, the colour penetrates the fibre thoroughly rather than sitting on the surface. This means the base colour of each piece is rich, consistent, and does not fade unevenly with washing. It also means the relationship between the base colour and the embroidery thread colours — which we consider very carefully — remains accurate over the life of the garment.

Our Dyeing Process

We dye our own fabric in-house. This is unusual, and it is also non-negotiable for us.

The reason is control. When fabric is dyed externally, the exact shade and finish depends on someone else's process, someone else's chemistry, and someone else's quality check. Variation creeps in batch by batch. For a brand where the relationship between base colour and embroidery thread colour is as carefully considered as it is at Indigrey, that variation is not acceptable.

We dye using non-harmful, skin-safe chemicals. This is a practical decision made because we believe clothing should not irritate the skin of the person wearing it. Viscose is a fabric that sits close to the body and moves with it all day. The chemistry used to colour it matters.

The result is fabric that is soft to the touch, consistent in colour, and genuinely comfortable against skin for extended wear.

Why the Thread Is Also Viscose

The embroidery thread in every Indigrey piece is 100% pure viscose. Pure viscose thread carries a natural sheen — warm, slightly soft in its reflection, and with a depth that reads as genuinely handcrafted. Under natural light, it catches and releases light in a way that adds to the depth of the motif.

It also behaves well during the embroidery process. It moves through fabric consistently, it does not create excess tension at stitch points, and it maintains its appearance after washing.

The Stitching Thread Too

The thread used to construct the garment — the stitching thread that holds seams together and finishes edges — is also chosen carefully. This is the detail no one talks about and almost no one checks, which is precisely why it is easy to overlook.

We do not overlook it. Good stitching thread means seams that hold their shape, edges that stay clean, and a garment that does not pull apart at the points of stress that come with regular wear. It is invisible work, but it is the kind of invisible work that determines how a piece holds up over time.

What This Means for You

When you wear an Indigrey piece, the fabric against your skin has been sourced carefully, dyed safely, and treated consistently. The embroidery on top of it has been worked in thread that will hold its appearance and its sheen. And the construction holding all of it together has been done by professionals using quality materials throughout.

None of these decisions show up in a product photograph. They show up in how the piece feels the first time you put it on, and in how it still feels two years later.

That is the point of choosing them.