The overall aim of Project Indigo is to replace the synthetic version of the dye indigo ,which is used in the fashion industry to colour denim and jeans, with a natural and sustainable version or  alternative.

One avenue of investigation is the possible use of IndoChrome as a replacement. This natual dye is produced by the bacterium Arthrobacter polychromogenes, and is a deep blue pigment with a coppery metallic sheen. Here the bacterium is grown on agar and then on a cotton test swatch.