Colorifix develops microbe-derived dyes by engineering bacteria and yeast to produce specific pigments that can be brewed and deposited directly onto textiles. Their process uses DNA databases to identify pigment genes, builds those genes into microbes, and scales them in vats to act as biological factories for dye production. A third-party life-cycle analysis paid for by Colorifix reports at least 49% less water use, 35% less electricity consumption and a 31% reduction in carbon emissions for natural fibers compared with conventional cotton dyeing; the company says savings are larger for synthetics like polyester and nylon. Colorifix has demonstrated limited commercial deployments—its dyes were used in a December 2021 Pangaia tracksuit run and in a Stella McCartney dress exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2018—but has not yet reached mass production. With the $22.6M Series B led by H&M, Colorifix plans to significantly scale operations and triple its staff to about 120 people to push the technology into fashion supply chains. The company competes with other sustainable-dye startups such as Pili and Vienna Textile Lab and positions its approach as a lower-water, lower-energy alternative to conventional dyeing. Colorifix has developed a commercial biological dyeing process that engineers microbes to produce naturally occurring pigments and transfer color directly onto fabrics. The company converts agricultural by-products such as sugar molasses into colorants, enabling dyeing that uses around ten times less water and eliminates heavy metals, organic solvents and acids. Its technology has been applied commercially to polyamide-based jersey, polyester and cotton, with research underway to extend to other natural and synthetic fabrics. Colorifix reports independently certified quality test results and is positioning its solution as a scalable alternative to petrochemical-based dyeing. To support scale-up it is expanding a Norwich-based facility, building the team, and launching pilots with leading international fashion players. The company was founded in 2016 by Drs James Ajioka, Orr Yarkoni and David Nugent; Dr Orr Yarkoni serves as CEO.

Total raised

$26M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

May 2022