French biotechnology company Pili has been awarded the Special Prize by National Association for the Development of the Fashion Arts (ANDAM) in recognition of its sustainable innovation in textile coloration.

Pili received the recognition for its technology that combines microbial fermentation and green chemistry to create bio-based dyes and pigments from renewable raw materials. The company’s approach offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional dye production methods.

In 2025, Citizens of Humanity Group introduced the first garments dyed using Pili’s Eco-Indigo, a bio-based substitute for traditional petroleum-derived indigo. The innovation provides high-performance coloration while reducing the use of harmful chemicals, lowering dependence on fossil resources, and cutting carbon emissions by up to 50 percent compared to conventional indigo dyeing processes.

The ANDAM jury described the technology as a practical and scalable alternative to petrochemical-based colorants that have historically dominated the fashion dyeing sector.

The company highlighted that its mission is to reinvent one of fashion’s most iconic colours, denim blue, through biotechnology. By producing Eco-Indigo using renewable biological processes, Pili aims to provide a credible and environmentally responsible alternative to conventional indigo dyes.