London-based materials science company, Pangaia, is launching a new garment collection that includes limited-edition tracksuits dyed with Colorifix’s biology-based dye process, which uses bacteria-derived colors. The Pangaia Lab Powered By Colorifix capsule is the first commercially available use of the bioengineered dye technology, as well as the second release from the Pangaia Lab revolutionary platform, which strives to find the latest materials science breakthroughs.
Colorifix’s lab-grown dyes are used in the capsule, which transforms natural pigments into colorful industrial dyes at scale with zero petrochemicals and none of the toxic chemicals used in traditional dyeing. The ground-breaking dyeing method discovers naturally occurring colors and analyses DNA sequence data to determine the pigment’s genetic code. Colorifix next creates and inserts the DNA code into a microbe that can not only generate the pigment but also transfer and fix the color onto fabric via synthetic biology.
Two naturally occurring blue and pink pigments were used to color the hoodie and track pants in the collection. The ‘Midway Geyser Pink,’ named after Yellowstone National Park’s iconic Midway Geyser Basin, is manufactured from pigments discovered in and near colorful geysers, while the ‘Blue Cocoon,’ is made with pigments found in silk cocoons. According to Pangaia, these pigments were the inspiration for the limited-edition graphic tracksuit design.
Dr. Amanda Parkes, Pangaia’s Chief Innovation Officer, said that Pangaia is committed to adopting the most sophisticated technologies that work to supplement natural processes, and Colorifix’s cutting edge approach reveals the full potential of biotechnology to bring positive change to the fashion industry. Using microorganisms to make natural dye is just the start of how bio-fabrication might fundamentally revolutionize manufacturing.
When compared to traditional cotton dyeing, Colorifix technology can save at least 49 percent of water, 35 percent of electrical energy, and 31 percent of CO2 emissions. That is, the new dyeing technique will help the textile sector lessen its environmental effect by following nature’s circular model for creating and applying color without the use of harsh chemicals.
According to Pangaia, the dyeing process can take up to five washes and demand high temperatures for more than five hours in order to achieve the desired color, but by using Colorifix’s designed microorganisms, it can mimic nature’s color palette with substantially cleaner inputs and outputs. Colorifix requires only one wash and three hours to achieve the desired color.
Dr. Orr Yarkoni, Colorifix’s Chief Executive and Co-Founder, said that they’re really excited about the launching of this capsule. It demonstrates that companies like Pangaia recognize the importance of biology in creating the future of business, and they are excited to be collaborating with a pioneer in this field.
The 356 Signature Hoodie costs $170 and the 356 Signature Track pant costs $140 in the first Pangaia Lab Powered By Colorifix collection.
