In Switzerland, color chemicals firm Archroma is supplying its EarthColors range of plant-based dyes to New Zealand-based outdoor clothing brand Kathmandu. The 100% renewable dyes will be used in Kathmandu’s signature hoodies.
Archroma produces EarthColors using the non-edible parts of nutshells, almond shells, rosemary, saw palmetto, bitter orange and beetroot, left over from agriculture industry or herbal extraction. The Kathmandu hoodies are available in slate blue, burnt olive and burlwood rose.
Manu Rastogi, textile R&D and responsible materials manager for Kathmandu, says that plant-based dyes tend to have poor light and wash fastness, but EarthColors “is probably the first technology allowing colors to be synthesized from plants rather than petroleum while keeping similar performance.”