Our Story
Lab Indigo is dedicated to preserving the cultural and ecological legacy of natural indigo through education, research, and artisan collaboration. Rooted in Guatemala, the organization honors Indigenous knowledge while creating space for these traditions to evolve and reach new generations.
Led by Olga Reiche, Lab Indigo explores the connection between textiles, land, and identity. Through workshops, consulting, and hands-on learning, the organization helps keep ancestral dyeing and weaving practices alive.
Indigo is one of the world’s oldest natural dyes, valued for its rich blue color and deep cultural significance. More than a pigment, it represents craftsmanship, resilience, and the passing of knowledge across generations.
The Beginning — Ojala
Since 1978, after the '76 earthquake in Guatemala, Olga began working with weavers in developing grassroots projects and assisting in developing cooperatives in different regions of the country. In 1984, she opened the store Ojala to help widows of many villages suffering from armed conflict.
Innovation of Natural Dyes
Due to the high production of textiles from weavers Olga began product development, store managing and self-taught natural dye techniques for vegetable fibers. Immediately, she started introducing and teaching natural dyes to weavers.
Worldwide Community
Olga participated in the International Folk Art Market in 2010. Since, Guatemalan artisans have continually attended. Olga has participated in internationally renowned markets that seek to maintain heritage and handmade craft luxury with her own line of natural dyed and up-cycled products.
Meet Olga
Olga is the visionary behind Lab Indigo, dedicating her life to preserving the ancestral art of natural indigo while empowering women, artisans, and local farming communities through education. Through her work, she bridges tradition and innovation, ensuring generations of cultural knowledge continue to thrive in a modern world.