BASF first produced synthetic indigo commercially for the denim industry.
The German chemical company developed an economical industrial process in the 1890s, following Adolf von Baeyer’s earlier laboratory work. BASF’s process made it possible to manufacture indigo in reliable quantities rather than depending on agricultural sources alone.
Natural indigo had long been obtained from plants, especially species of Indigofera. Producing it required cultivation, fermentation, and processing of plant material. Synthetic indigo offered textile manufacturers a more predictable supply and consistent dye performance.
Commercial synthetic indigo did not instantly replace natural indigo everywhere, but it became increasingly important as textile production expanded. Denim makers used indigo because it colors the warp yarn while leaving the lighter weft visible, helping create the characteristic blue outer surface and pale interior of traditional jeans.