Colorifix, a company located at Norwich Research Park, is introducing a new biological method for dyeing textiles that offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional processes. The company is leading the way in creating a greener solution for dyeing fabrics. Their innovation could significantly lower the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

Margie Carvalho, who leads the analytics team at Colorifix, explained: “We find colours from natural sources such as plants, insects, animals, or microbes. Instead of removing the colour directly, we study the DNA of the organism to identify the genes responsible for the pigment. We then create that DNA sequence and place it into microorganisms like yeast or bacteria. These microbes are given sugar and nitrogen in a water-based fermenter, similar to brewing beer, which allows them to produce the pigment or dye,” she said.

This approach uses much less water and energy, and it also produces less pollution and carbon emissions compared to conventional dyeing methods. She added, “Our goal is to help fashion brands and manufacturers switch from chemical methods to biological ones through our dye-making process.”

Over the past three years, Colorifix has made great progress in building its dyeing technology and expanding its range of eco-friendly dyes. The company now supplies coloured fabric to mills in countries like Italy, Portugal, Brazil, and India. These mills then provide fabric to well-known brands such as H&M, Vollebak, and Pangaia.