Colorifix is harnessing the power of nature to save it. A finalist for Prince William’s 2023 Earthshot Prize, the company implements solutions to the wasteful, polluting, textile-dyeing industry.
Colorifix’s fabric-dying technology may be complicated, but the goal has always been simple: “to create colors the natural way, as nature does it,” said CEO Orr Yarkoni. Founded in 2016 by Yarkoni and Jim Ajioka, Colorifix developed the world’s first fully biological process to produce, deposit, and fix pigments onto textiles.
Three years before founding Colorifix, Yarkoni and Ajioka went to Nepal, where they directly witnessed the environmental devastation from textile production. “Seeing water that even stray dogs avoid, hearing from people about the water changing color with every fashion season, we realized that there must be a better way to produce color and put it on fabric the same way nature does, without harming our planet and its people,” said Yarkoni
“Seeing water that even stray dogs avoid, hearing from people about the water changing color with every fashion season, we realized that there must be a better way to produce color,” says Yarkoni.
Their process begins with identifying a color created naturally by animals, plants, or microbes. Then, they use DNA sequencing to pinpoint where that color is coded in the organism’s genetic sequencing. The DNA code is then translated into Colorifix’s engineered microorganisms. This allows them to create a pigment just as nature created it and transfer it to the fabric. The nature-harnessing technology works on a wide range of fabrics, from naturals like cotton and wool, to synthetics like polyester and nylon. Their product catalog expands nearly every month.
The fashion industry’s impact on water waste and natural resources is no secret. The dyeing industry, in particular, is one of the largest water consumers in the world, using over 5 trillion liters every year and a multitude of highly toxic and polluting chemicals. Colorifix technology reduces water consumption by at least 49%, electricity by 35%, and CO2 emissions by 31%.
A testament to Colorifix’s impact on sustainability in the textile industry, Colorifix was a finalist for the 2023 Earthshot Prize in the “Build a Waste Free World” category. Earthshot, Prince William’s climate-focused charity, recognizes companies that work to resist global environmental crises.
From the fashion industry, the response to Colorifix’s developments has been overwhelmingly positive. “There is an increasing demand for finding better alternatives, especially considering the legislation coming into place soon,” said Yarkoni. For example, the FABRIC Act, proposed in May 2022, is currently being reviewed in the US Senate. Among regulations on manufacturers, the Act would create a $40 million domestic garment manufacturing grant program to drive the industry toward sustainability.
“Given the disproportionate impact of fast fashion, it would be counter to our mission not to work with brands in that category as well,” says Yarkoni.
“The challenge is taking that interest and turning it into action in an industry that has been operating in the same way for a very long time,” said Yarkoni. Still, Colorifix has partnered with brands such as Pangaia and Vollebak. The goal is now to expand globally, introducing their technology to customers’ Southeast Asian sites in 2024. Working with large, fast fashion brands is necessary to create a long-lasting impact. “Given the disproportionate impact of fast fashion, it would be counter to our mission not to work with brands in that category as well,” said Yarkoni.
Change requires collaboration, too. The Mills Fabrica, which invests in companies that provide sustainable solutions to critical issues in the agrifood and techstyle industries, has been a valued partner to Colorifix. With the help of The Mills Fabrica, Colorix has been able to deliver its story to the fashion industry.
Colorifix’s unique process solved the two main issues in the dyeing process: creating the pigment and fixing it onto the fabric. And they did it without the use of toxic chemicals. “Now we need to continue to develop our process, developing a wider range of colors and optimizing to lower the impact of each step,” said Yarkoni.