February 2020 Issue Apparel February 2020 issue | Page 78

FEATURE
RECYCROM™ HAS BEEN
PREPARED USING RECYCLED
CLOTHING, TEXTILE SCRAPS,
AND FIBRES.
which is chemically linked to a polymer particle.
The colouring takes place when this dye reacts
with cellulose fibres at temperatures as low as
25°C. The best part about this technology is that
it doesn’t require the use of salt, and it consumes
the least energy and water. Moreover, when
dyeing denim, it does not require traditional and
toxic reducing agents. In addition to this, clothes
dyed with this additive do not require harsh
washing-off, which, otherwise, leads to wastage
and causes environmental harm. And with
H2COLOR-AUX, hydrolysis is prevented too.
This, together with the absence of toxic agents,
helps to save water during the dyeing process to
a considerable extent.
likely to take shape, here are a few techniques
and processes with a low environmental
footprint that reputed brands are employing to
colour their clothes:
HYBRID DYES FOR DENIM
Reputed dyeing company Ecofoot has
developed H2COLOR-AUX technology for
dyeing. This hybrid pigment consists of a dye,
70
I APPAREL I
February 2020
POWDER DYES
Another company, Officina+39, has developed
a sustainable dye range titled Recycrom™, as
an alternative to harmful synthetic dyes. What
is interesting is that Recycrom™ has been
prepared using recycled clothing, textile scraps,
and fibres. It does not only reduce the after-
effects of synthetic dyes but also, through its
ingredients, cuts down their chemical backbone.
These dyes are prepared using a sophisticated
eight-step system, wherein all the fibres are
crystallised into an extremely fine powder that
can be used as a pigment to dye fabrics and
garments made of cotton, wool, nylon, and many
others. What’s more? The application of this
dye is easy—it can be applied as a suspension,
unlike other dyes that are applied using a
chemical solution. This application technique
favours the environment and reduces the harm
that toxins create and propagate.