ColorZen technology works by altering the molecular structure of the cotton fiber. Think of conventional cotton and dye like magnets that are both negatively charged, repelling each other with identical polarities. When ColorZen’s treatment is applied to the surface of raw cotton, the technology reverses the charge of the cotton, allowing the dye to quickly and easily bond with it. That’s what allows ColorZen to eliminate the need for the toxic chemicals that otherwise are required in modern dyebaths.

ColorZen technology was developed by a core group of scientists, engineers, chemists, and dye-masters over the course of several years. Tens of millions of dollars have been invested in research and development to create a technology with the highest quality, consistency, and ability to scale.

Our technology is proven to have significantly more savings than other solutions on the market today. Additionally, unlike many other technologies, ColorZen® cotton requires no capital investment on the part of dyehouse, allowing for a low barrier to entry. In fact, ColorZen cotton can be dyed with the exact same equipment and dyes, just using a far simpler and more efficient procedure. As a result, ColorZen® technology allows for vast cost savings and up to a 300% increase in productivity, making ColorZen economically viable as well.

As of now, considering how much impact we can have in that market, we are focused on treating cotton fiber. However, any cellulosic fiber such as linen, rayon, hemp, or jute, will likely work well with ColorZen’s platform. We are actively exploring these applications as part of our ongoing R&D efforts.

Yes, there are chemicals used in our process—that is how we change the charge of the cotton to readily accept the dye.

ColorZen has achieved the well-known Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification, issued by the widely respected expert Hohenstein Textile Testing Institute. This recognizes that our treated fiber is safe for use in garments and other products, and is even safe for babies. Additionally, ColorZen’s manufacturing partner, Jabil, adheres to a very strict environmental, health and safety (EHS) protocol.

When referring to heathers, we mean two colors blended together to form a multicolored effect. For example, a heather can be a dyed purple fiber blended with an undyed fiber, creating a two-tone effect. Today, the only way the industry is able to produce these heather-colored garments is to spin two different color fibers into a single yarn and and use that to create heather garments.

ColorZen® heather yarns work very differently. Because ColorZen® fiber requires a much simpler dye procedure without additive chemicals or high temperatures, a heather can now be dyed in fabric or garment form, where only the ColorZen portion of the fabric absorbs color. As this dyeing happens much later in the supply chain and closer to retail, it provides more relevant colors to shoppers, and creates a valuable speed-to-market competitive advantage

Cationic chemistry has been around the textile industry for many years and is well known, but has never been widely adopted by the market, primarily because of quality, cost, and scalability. While ColorZen can certainly be classified as a cationic technology, the ColorZen® process is very different than anything the industry has seen to date. It yields exceptional color and uniform dyeing results while achieving unprecedented environmental and cost benefits. As a result, this is the first time in the history of cotton dyeing that such a technology is being widely adopted on a global scale.