Swedish company We aRe SpinDye has developed a sustainable coloring method for synthetic yarns and fabrics intended for use in apparel.
The process significantly reduces the negative environmental impact typical of the traditional dyeing process, the company said. The SpinDye-coloring process reduces water usage by 75 percent, the use of chemicals by 90 percent, and energy consumption by 25 percent, and the carbon dioxide emissions footprint is cut by 30 percent compared to traditional dyeing, the firm noted.
We aRe SpinDye has raised 3 million euros ($3.46 million) from venture funds to take the eco-friendly dyeing method to the next level. The new investors are Textile Innovation Fund (TIF) and Social Impact Ventures of The Netherlands, and China’s Bestbase Group.
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Axel Mörner, angel investor and chairman of We aRe SpinDye, said, “The investment will give We aRe SpinDye the resources to invest in growth and sets us on the path of being true change makers in the industry.”
The company said the three investors are showing their commitment to drive change in the fashion and apparel industry toward a more sustainable and circular production that can be used by all textile companies. The investments will further both We aRe SpinDye’s commercial reach and the impact of the brand, while also scaling production capabilities and leveraging digital opportunities in textile manufacturing.
“We aRe SpinDye is a business ready to scale up its proven sustainable method for coloring synthetic textiles,” TIF fund manager Susan van Koeveringe said. “With the quality and dedication of the We aRe SpinDye team and our partner investors, we are pleased to be on board, creating the impact that is perfectly in sync with the kind of investments the Textile Innovation Fund is aiming for.”
We aRe SpinDye noted that the production process also allows for better color consistency and minimizes recalls and cancelled orders. Katrin Ley, managing director of Fashion For Good, noted that We aRe SpinDye was one of the innovators in the second batch of its Fashion for Good-Plug and Play Accelerator Program.
Eske Scavenius from Social Impact Ventures, who will be joining SpinDye’s board of directors, said, “We have been on the lookout for scalable innovations that combine business with impact, and accelerate the transition toward a clean and healthy textile industry: We aRe SpinDye fits the bill perfectly, and we look forward to supporting the company’s growth.”
Early adopters of We aRe SpinDye this year included Bergans of Norway, Quiksilver, Fjällräven and Odd Molly. The products are labeled with the SpinDye sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) and logo indicating the fabric is colored with the SpinDye coloring method. We aRe SpinDye will exhibit at the upcoming Première Vision Paris, Performance Days and ISPO trade shows.
Micke Magnusson, CEO at We aRe SpinDye, added, “With our three new partners on board, we will further fuel the revolution the fashion and apparel industry is going through. The global fashion industry is accountable for massive environmental impact and is one of the least digitalized industries on the globe. We are thrilled to have formed this partnership that will enable us to drive change faster and more effectively.”
