Biological dyeing firm Colorifix is set to launch industrial-scale trials in partnerships with fashion groups, including H&M, and textile manufacturers such as Switzerland's Forster Rohner and India's Arvind.

The trials, to begin imminently, will be carried out using Colorifix's biological dyes, which involve no hazardous chemicals and reduce water use by up to 90 per cent, at dye houses which are already supplying the brands.

Colorifix chief executive Orr Yarkoni said: "For the first pilots, I hope we have everything up and running by Christmas. We are starting on multiple sites simultaneously in Portugal, Italy and India."

If the trials are successful, Colorifix expects to commercially launch 5-ml batches of its microbe-based dyes in 2020, Yarkoni told Reuters.

Yarkoni said the biggest challenges the company faced would be creating new shades on demand, maintaining standards and keeping costs down.

Courtesy: Eco Textile News