With the outbreak of the SARS epidemic in 2003, so-called "non-brick-and-mortar" sales saw a major jump. Add to this the fact that the root of the indigo woad plant, used as a dye, was also touted as an effective remedy against SARS, and remarkably the market for indigo-dyed fabric heated up.
2003 年 SARS 來襲，無店舖銷售大紅，加上用來做染料的板藍根被視為抗煞良藥，竟一舉炒熱藍染市場。