Abstract An aqueous solution of 1,1′-diethyl-2,2′-quinocyanine bromide (PIC-Br) containing highly concentrated counter ions provided by NaCl was prepared by heating the solution at 90 °C. Upon cooling the solution to room temperature, it transformed into a gel-like state. Optical microscopy revealed that fiber-shaped J aggregates formed a network structure in the gelated solution. By cooling the solution in a magnetic field of 10 T, highly oriented J aggregates were obtained in the gel. Without any additional treatment, the alignment of the fibers was preserved after the gelated solution was removed from the magnetic field. The absorption spectra of the gelated solution showed a strongly polarized J-band, reflecting the high degree of orientation of the magnetically aligned J aggregates.