Colorifix, a British startup that develops sustainable dyeing solutions, has partnered with Italian shirting specialist Albini Group, to develop the Exteria project, a pilot process for dyeing yarns with colors produced by bacteria engineered on an industrial scale.

The process involves Colorifix using DNA sequencing to identify the genes that produce a specific pigment in an organism. The sequenced DNA is then inserted into a microorganism that can produce the pigment naturally. This microorganism is bioengineered by Albini using a fermentor to produce large quantities of the pigment. The dye liquid, also called the “bacterial broth,” is then transferred to standard dyeing machines with the yarn; this eliminates the need for harsh chemicals and water. Once the yarn is dyed, it is woven into fabric.

Analyst QuickTake: This partnership is likely to support the company’s goal to commercially scale up in 2023. The company has also partnered with leading textile companies and brands, such as H&M and Pangaia, to commercialize its solution.