Prince William & Cate Blanchett’s Sustainable Textile Lesson

The Prince of Wales and Cate Blanchett were happy to make sustainability the star of the show during a visit to Colorifix, a UK-based company that creates sustainable dye for clothing. 

Prince William and Cate took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Norwich-based company’s dyeing process, following the journey from DNA sequencing in the lab to the final application of dye on fabric.

The high-profile guests witnessed firsthand how the innovation works and where it saves energy, water and carbon emissions along the way.

But what attracted such illustrious attention for Colorifix?

A radical rethink on colour

As a 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist in the ‘Build a Waste-Free World’ category, Colorifix is a pioneering biotech company that is redefining how the world thinks about colour – harnessing the power of DNA, microbes and nature’s own palette to clean up one of fashion’s dirtiest secrets: fabric dyeing.

The environmental cost of traditional dyeing methods is staggering. Chemically synthesised dyes not only pollute rivers and threaten ecosystems, but also consume water at unsustainable levels. 

It’s estimated that global fabric dyeing consumes five trillion litres of water annually – enough to fill two million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

But Colorifix offers an innovative, science-backed departure from the status quo.

“Dyeing and wet processes in general are some of the most impactful activities that fashion does towards the environment,” explains Colorifix Co-Founder and CEO Dr Orr Yarkoni.

“We can make a really big difference and we’re just at the start of what we’re doing.”

A new era for sustainable fashion

Instead of synthetic chemistry, Colorifix looks to the natural world. The process begins by identifying a colour found in a plant, animal or microbe. 

Scientists then sequence the DNA of the organism to locate the precise genetic code responsible for that pigment.

This code is inserted into a safe microbe, which is then transported to the dye house to support the growth of the colour via fermentations in a scalable, low-impact process.

“I think it’s imperative that we reimagine fashion: not only how it’s made, but how we value it and how we consume it,” says Cate. “I think creativity can flourish within sustainable limits. 

“I was a huge supporter of Colorifix when I came across them in the Earthshot Prize, but to see how it’s already grown, and the advances that are literally happening on a day-by-day basis, was really inspiring.”

David Clarke, the Head of Fermentation at Colorifix, compares the process to brewing.

“Whenever people see scientific equipment and scientific process, it's always interesting... the basis of what we do is very simple, so I think for people to understand that and engage with that is great," he says.

“It's always a big boost to see famous people... I think the team is very proud of what they do and very proud for them to come and visit us."

Biology meets sustainable, scalable industry

Colorifix’s solution is remarkable not just for its scientific ingenuity, but also for its practicality. 

The company’s dyes work on natural and synthetic textiles and can be applied using standard dyeing machinery with no additional petrochemicals or major infrastructure changes required.

What sets the technology apart is its holistic sustainability. At every stage, the process slashes the consumption of water, energy and petrochemicals. 

It is not just a cleaner dye: it is a cleaner system.

Earthshot impact and the road ahead

Since its founding in 2016, Colorifix has grown from a bold idea into a disruptive force in sustainable fashion.

Its technology has already caught the attention of major global brands, culminating in partnerships with fashion powerhouses including H&M, Pangaia and Vollebak. 

With operations now active across three sites in Europe and India and a team of 85, Colorifix is scaling fast, with several new factories set to come online this year.

The Earthshot Prize – often dubbed the “Nobel Prize for the Environment” – has provided a vital platform for Colorifix. 

Founded in 2020 by Prince William followed by incubation for a year at The Royal Foundation, The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental prize and platform designed to discover, accelerate and scale ground-breaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet. Cate Blanchett is an Earthshot Prize council member. 

Recognition as an Earthshot Prize finalist in 2023 has not only validated Colorifix’s approach but also connected the company to a network of investors, partners and thought leaders eager to support breakthrough climate solutions.

As Colorifix expands its reach and continues to grow, the support from the Earthshot Prize community has been instrumental in fuelling its mission.

With biology at its core and impact at scale, this is more than just a new way to dye – it is a blueprint for a waste-free, environmentally-friendlier fashion future.

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