Indigo dyeing and beeswax batik began when Hmong communities made their own clothing because ready-made fabrics were not available. Families grew hemp to weave cloth and cultivated indigo plants to produce the deep blue dye. Before dyeing, melted beeswax was drawn onto the fabric to create patterns. The cloth was then dipped repeatedly into the indigo vat, and when the wax was later boiled away, white designs appeared against the dark blue background. These textiles were used to make traditional clothing, especially for festivals, weddings, and the Lunar New Year. Each pattern is drawn by hand, usually learned from mothers and grandmothers, which is why the craft continues to be practiced manually today. When you try drawing wax on fabric and dipping it into the indigo dye, you follow the same steps that have been used for generations to create these garments.