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citizens of humanity group | a new shade of sustainability with eco-indigo

Who knew sugar could dye your jeans? Citizens of Humanity Group is changing the way we think about indigo with Eco-Indigo, a bio-based dye that blends innovation with sustainability. Developed in collaboration with French biotech pioneers Pili, this revolutionary dye transforms renewable resources into vibrant indigo, without relying on fossil fuels or heavy energy use.  

What makes Eco-Indigo different? It’s all about the process. Pili’s technology draws inspiration from nature and brewing beer, merging industrial fermentation with sustainable chemistry. Instead of petroleum, biomass like molasses and starch-based sugars — agricultural by-products that don’t compete with food supply — are fed into fermentation tanks. Specialised microorganisms transform these sugars into aromatic intermediates, the chemical building blocks for dyes and pigments. After fermentation, a green chemistry process turns these intermediates into the high-performance indigo dye we know and love, but with significantly lower CO₂ emissions, minimal waste, and water as the solvent of choice.  

This isn’t just a clever lab trick. The technology behind Eco-Indigo brings scalable solutions to a massive industry, helping decarbonise colour production and reduce the environmental cost of dyeing. It’s a shift that directly addresses fashion’s over-reliance on fossil-based materials and harmful chemicals.

Debuting in the Spring 2025 collections from Citizens of Humanity and AGOLDE, featuring Guinevere van Seenus, Eco-Indigo joins forces with their Regenerative Cotton Program —  a sourcing initiative that’s delivered over 5 million pounds of planet-friendly cotton since 2022. Together, these innovations form the first-ever denim marrying regenerative cotton with bio-based indigo.  

And yes, it still looks as good as it sounds. The deep, rich hue of Eco-Indigo captures the timeless appeal of traditional denim, proving that sustainability doesn’t mean compromising on quality or style. It’s the kind of innovation that turns buzzwords into action — and action into better jeans.  

Because if the future of fashion means dressing smarter, this is a very good place to start.

Learn more here.

photography. Laurence Ellis
words. Gennaro Costanzo