PANGAIA continues to use science, purpose, and design to reimagine the future of apparel. Through PANGAIA Lab, a new platform focused on identifying and supporting innovations in material science, the brand has been able to develop new product that pushes the boundaries of eco-conscious design. This includes eyewear made in partnership with chemical startup Twelve that uses lenses crafted from captured carbon emissions. For PANGAIA Lab’s latest release, the brand worked with biotechnology company Colorifix to introduce a collection that brings biology-based dyeing technology to apparel for the first time.
“We are really excited for the release of this capsule. It shows that brands like PANGAIA understand the power of biology in shaping the future of industry and we are thrilled to be working with a leader in this space,” said Colorifix CEO and Co-founder Dr. Orr Yarkoni in a press release.
The PANGAIA Lab Powered By Colorifix capsule includes limited-edition tracksuits featuring the 356 Signature Hoodie ($170 USD) and 356 Signature Trackpant ($140 USD) colored by lab-grown dyes that are bioengineered from natural pigments. Colorifix first identifies these naturally occurring pigments and injects microbes with the DNA code of that pigment to produce and transfer specific colors onto fabric.
The new tracksuits are dyed in blue and pink, and these “bio-fabricated” color choices weren’t made by happenstance or for aesthetic reasons. Both are naturally occurring pigments: pink is produced by ancient bacteria found in and around colorful geysers, and blue is found in silk production waste.
This process, which Fast Company cites as similar to making insulin or animal-free dairy protein, is a step beyond hazardous synthetic dyes or natural dyes that need to be chemically treated in order to prevent fading and for fixing dye onto materials. Colorifix’s dyes use zero petrochemicals nor hazardous substances necessary in conventional dyeing. In fact, the startup compared its process with how cotton is conventionally dyed and found that the Colorifix technology reduces water consumption by at least 49%, electricity by 35%, and carbon emissions by 31%.
“PANGAIA is committed to using the most advanced technologies which work to augment natural processes, and Colorifix’s cutting edge approach manifests the true potential of biotechnology to bring positive change to the fashion industry,” said PANGAIA Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Amanda Parkes. “Harnessing the power of microorganisms to create natural dye is only the beginning of how bio-fabrication can fundamentally transform manufacturing.”
The PANGAIA Lab Powered By Colorifix collection will release on November 30, only on thepangaia.com.
In other material innovation news, On Running developed a new cushioning foam material out of captured carbon emissions.