A different way of doing things
A new startup is hoping to disrupt the status quo and clean up the textile industry's black eye. Backed by 15 years and millions of dollars of research in a North Carolina laboratory, ColorZen pretreats cotton fibers to create a natural affinity between the fiber and dye, thereby eliminating the chemical additives currently required to force the dye to adhere. "We change the fiber on a molecular level, the part that's responsible for attracting or repelling the dye," says ColorZen co-founder Michael Hariri. The process uses 90 percent less water and 75 percent less energy than the standard cotton dyeing procedures, he adds, while achieving the same rich hues and colorfastness. ColorZen launched informally at the Continuum Show this year, following with a formal press event on August 7.