WTRLSS has presented a digital denim dyeing technology that would reduce water use by up to 99.9%, according to FashionUnited UK. The process, patented and carried out in a single digital step, would almost entirely eliminate the water as well as the heavy chemicals and wastewater usually associated with denim dyeing.
According to the figures put forward, water consumption per pair of jeans would fall to around two tablespoons, or 20 ml. Energy consumption linked to dyeing and finishing would be cut by 90%. Conventional denim dyeing, FashionUnited UK notes, involves several steps requiring harsh chemicals and large quantities of water, making it one of the industry's most resource-intensive processes.
At the heart of the system is WTRLSS's proprietary MultiActiv chemistry, designed for digital application without traditional wet processing. The technology would work on natural and regenerated fibres such as cotton, jute, bamboo and linen, the largest segment of the global textile market by volume and value.
Industrial partners from the pilot stage
Ha-Meem Group, one of the world's largest denim manufacturers and a supplier to Levi's, Gap and H&M, would partner with WTRLSS on a commercial production pilot. ISAIC (Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center), a non-profit organisation based in Detroit, would also be among the first to deploy the technology in its advanced manufacturing facilities.
WTRLSS, formerly known as Lab Denim, is now focused on deploying the technology at industrial scale. By eliminating wet processing steps, the company says it reduces costs linked to water consumption, wastewater treatment and recycling, while making it possible to dye denim in locations not dependent on water.
The technology was developed by Swiss-French scientist Mickaël Mheidle, co-founder, chairman and chief scientific officer of WTRLSS, alongside entrepreneur, investor and producer Kareem Burke.
