Patrick McDowell, the renowned British brand at the forefront of sustainable luxury fashion, has announced a new collaboration with Sparxell, the world-first, nature-inspired colour platform Technology Company founded by University of Cambridge scientists Dr Benjamin Droguet and Professor Silvia Vignolini. The company creates high-performance, biodegradable colourants that are free from plastic and toxic chemicals using plant-based cellulose. This collaboration will unveil a couture printed gown and a commercially available shirt dress, marking a defining moment as Patrick McDowell becomes the first brand to integrate Sparxell’s cutting-edge innovations into fashion.
Known for advancing the boundaries of circular and eco-conscious design, McDowell continues to reinforce his brand’s commitment to a more responsible fashion industry. This collaboration showcases the potential for innovation to redefine luxury, with the collection making its debut at Future Fabrics Expo 2025, the world’s leading platform for sustainable materials for the fashion industry. The launch signals a broader industry shift toward forward-thinking practices that will shape the future of luxury as well as mainstream fashion. “This is about making sustainability tangible. One piece shows what’s possible at the highest level of craft, the other makes that possibility part of everyday life,” said Patrick McDowell, Creative Director and Founder.
Unlike conventional synthetic materials, Sparxell’s bio-inspired approach creates natural yet high-performance products. The company pioneers the world’s first 100% biodegradable pigments, inks and embellishments such as sequins and foils inspired by nature. Sparxell eliminates fossil-derived synthetic finishes and their associated excessive water consumption and carbon emissions, offering an alternative capable of achieving vivid colours and luxurious effects from plants. By emulating natural colour processes known as photonic colours widely seen in nature, their products deliver rich hues and durable textures with the lowest environmental harm, allowing brands to create consciously without compromise.
“What excites me about Sparxell is how they’re advancing what’s possible in responsible luxury. Their plant-based pigments and plastic-free sequins are exceptionally vibrant yet completely non-toxic and biodegradable. It opens up entirely new creative possibilities,” said Patrick McDowell, Creative Director and Founder.
The collection showcases Sparxell’s innovative colour technology across multiple applications. McDowell’s couture gown features two distinct shades of Sparxell’s signature blue – a sophisticated matte finish and a brilliant shimmery effect that captures light through structural colour rather than traditional sparkle materials, otherwise derived from synthetic dyed plastics or mined metals and minerals. The collection also includes a bag crafted from NUVI’s next-gen material made with a coating containing Sparxell’s shimmers.
These represent the first commercial shades that Sparxell is launching to market, with additional colours already available for early adopter brands. Sparxell’s platform enables unlimited colour variations to be manufactured.
