Bio-based Dyes and Pigments for Colour Palette
BioColour: sustainable colour aesthetics
Transforming fashion by getting rid of toxic colours. See this and other fascinating projects on display in the Designs for a Cooler Planet main exhibition in Marsio on 6 Sept – 3 Oct 2024.
When
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Where
The textile industry uses over 10,000 oil-based synthetic dyes that are carcinogenic and damage ecosystems. In contrast, biocolours make up only 1% of dyes due to variability and perceived quality issues in mass production.
This pursuit for colour consistency leads to an environmentally unfriendly, uniform aesthetic. BioColour challenges these norms, advocating for embracing imperfections and colour variety as part of sustainable fashion aesthetics.
Showcasing Sofia Ilmonen’s modular garments dyed with biocolours, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect their attitudes towards fading, change and temporality.
Contact
Associate professor Kirsi Niinimäki (ARTS)
Designer Sofia Ilmonen
This research is part of the BioColour project funded by the Research Council of Finland, Strategic funding.
Designs for a Cooler Planet
Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition showcases interdisciplinary experiments at Marsio, Otakaari 2. Open 5 Sept – 28 Oct 2025.
