Indigo Workshop in Hong Kong: Japanese tie-dye class

Tie-dye your own bandanna and taste Chinese tea in a working indigo studio

An indigo dyeing workshop in Hong Kong's Lantau Island teaches Japanese tie-dye techniques in a 66-year-old rebuilt village on the site of a 400-year-old settlement. You'll get an introduction to indigo history from Hong Kong indigo pioneer Max To, learn folding and binding methods, dye your own 90cm × 90cm bandanna, and finish with a Chinese tea tasting. The workshop runs about two and a half hours with a live English-speaking guide. Children are welcome from age 6.

The experience

What makes this workshop different is the setting: the studio sits inside a village rebuilt 66 years ago on the footprint of a 400-year-old farming community, and the indigo tradition here blends Japanese technique with Hong Kong culture. Max To, who pioneered indigo dyeing in Hong Kong, leads the introduction to the craft's history before the hands-on part begins. You'll work with high-quality cotton and linen sourced from Japan, China, the UK and India.

The tie-dye itself is the core of the two-and-a-half-hour session. After a tutorial on folding, binding and resist techniques, you'll apply those methods to your own 90cm × 90cm bandanna, choosing your own pattern and watching the indigo take hold. Once the dyeing is done, the group moves to a Chinese tea tasting to wind down. An air-conditioned vehicle brings you to the studio. When the workshop ends, you'll be dropped at a nearby bus stop for the return to the city.

What’s included

• Materials and use of the indigo dyes.
• a 90cm × 90cm cotton or linen bandanna to dye.
• Chinese tea tasting after the workshop.
• air-conditioned vehicle to the studio.
• live guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday, Thursday and SundayDepartures at 11:00 and 14:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Youth (6 to 17 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by 片藍造 藍染工房

Is this one for you?Small groups work well here since the studio space and the hands-on instruction are built for close attention. If you want to learn a specific craft and take home something you made yourself, rather than move through multiple sites in a day, this workshop fits that kind of trip.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 17 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the indigo history introduction actually about?

Max To, Hong Kong's indigo pioneer, walks through the history and cultural significance of indigo dyeing, setting up why the techniques you're about to learn matter. It's a short intro before the hands-on work starts.

What happens to the bandanna I dye?

You keep it. The 90cm × 90cm bandanna you dye during the workshop is yours to take home once it's finished and dried.

How do I get back to the city after the workshop?

The studio is near a bus stop, and public transportation options are available from there. The air-conditioned vehicle brings you to the studio but does not provide return transport to the city center.

Is this workshop suitable if I'm not very fit?

The workshop is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's hands-on but not strenuous. You'll be working at a table for most of the two-and-a-half hours. The studio is air-conditioned, and there's a tea break built in.