Blue, crafted through indigo DNA and fermentation.
The blue that touches your skin throughout life has been reborn through synthetic biology. For skin health, Blugene is an indigo that never compromises—even on the smallest risks.
Better Blue for Everyday Denim
CutisBio proves our promises with data and official certifications.
We start from renewable carbon. Biobased carbon content is published as a test result.
Denim sits against the skin all day. We analyze aniline and N-methylaniline, impurities that can remain in synthetic indigo, by accredited test methods and publish the results together with the detection limit.
Test report numbers, certificate numbers and original certificate images can be checked directly on this site.
ACROSS BORDERS. ACROSS GENERATIONS.
No matter the country or age, denim is part of our daily life. Because it is worn for years and touches the skin every day, we re-examined every step, from making the color and dyeing to the moment the denim is worn, together with dermatologists, the specialists in skin health. Blugene began with the following three questions.
Blugene Skin Safety First Program
We can partner with denim and jeans brands to arrange third-party testing of artificial-sweat extracts from fabrics dyed with Blugene indigo, including single-application and cumulative skin irritation studies. We can provide participating brands with laboratory reports and fabric-specific test summaries to support clear, evidence-based product communication.
Results apply to the tested fabric extracts and study conditions.
WHAT REMAINS MATTERS
In the tests presented in the catalog, CutisBio bio indigo, the foundation of Blugene, showed that aniline and N-methylaniline were not detected.
Aniline and N-methylaniline are used as starting materials or intermediates in chemical synthesis routes, and they can remain as unreacted residues in the final indigo powder. A number of certification standards limit the permitted concentration of these substances in textile dyes and in finished products.
Not detected (N.D.) means below the method detection limit under the stated test method. It is not a measured value of 0, and it is not shown as a zero bar in the charts.
EU CLP · IARC
How regulators classify the two substances. This is why the test results below measure them.
Aniline
C₆H₅NH₂ · CAS 62-53-3
N-methylaniline
C₆H₅NHCH₃ · CAS 100-61-8
Hazard statements from the harmonised classification in Annex VI of the EU CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. The IARC evaluation is from the 2020 meeting (Volume 127).
Every value in the charts can also be found in the tables below.
| Sample | Indigo type | Aniline (mg/kg) | N-methylaniline (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company S | Chemical | 1,524 | 828 |
| Company M | Chemical | 369 | 225 |
| Company Z | Chemical | 1,229 | 1,127 |
| Company M | Plant | Not detected | Not detected |
| Company XT | Plant | 131 | 85 |
| Company I | Plant | Not detected | Not detected |
| Company XB | Plant | Not detected | Not detected |
| Company H | Plant | 2,652 | 2,375 |
| CutisBio | Bio | Not detected | Not detected |
Not detected (N.D.) means below the method detection limit under the stated test method. It is not a measured value of 0, and it is not shown as a zero bar in the charts.
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
CutisBio produces indigo by utilizing microorganisms' biosynthetic pathways and fermentation.
Renewable carbon from biomass such as corn is the starting point.
Indigo is made by fermentation that draws on the biosynthetic pathways of microorganisms.
After recovery and purification, it is made into powder and digital printing ink.
It is applied to cotton, silk and cashmere dyeing and to digital printing.
Blugene's journey into denim begins with renewable plant feedstock: the blue DNA of indigo is reborn as dye and ink through synthetic biology and precision fermentation. The resulting Blugene indigo dye holds certifications such as ZDHC MRSL, OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT and USDA BioPreferred, and it is the dye that colors the denim we wear.
FROM RENEWABLE CARBON
An indigo that starts from renewable carbon. From the origin of the feedstock through to compositional analysis, we explain our approach with material you can verify.
98%
Biobased carbon content of Blugene
This is a ratio based on the organic carbon of the test sample. It does not mean the plant-derived content of a pair of jeans, the purity of the indigo, or a reduction in carbon emissions.
DYEING PERFORMANCE
Test photos of the same skeins dipped 1, 3 and 5 times in petrochemical indigo and in Blugene, placed side by side. We show the photos as they are, without converting them into numbers.
1 dip
3 dips
5 dips
Petrochemical indigo
Blugene 1
Blugene 2
Test photos provided by CutisBio, shown without colour correction. The colour depth in the photos was not converted into K/S values or ΔE colour-difference measurements, and the photos do not mean superiority under all conditions.
DATA & CERTIFICATIONS
Test results and certificates are gathered in one place. Each item is shown with its testing institute, test method, report number and data as-of date, and the original can be viewed.
PRODUCT FORMS
Indigo made by microbial fermentation is supplied as a powder for fabric dyeing and as an ink for digital printing.
Cotton, silk, and cashmere dyeing evaluation data are included in the catalog.
The product names above are the web-facing names of the new brand. In the catalogue and the certificates the original product name is “Bio Indigo Dye Powder (Microbial Fermentation) / CB Bio Indigo Dye Powder”.
A bio indigo ink for digital printing. We are glad to discuss applications and samples with you.
The product names above are the web-facing names of the new brand. In the catalogue and the certificates the original product name is “BioIndigo Digital Printing Ink”.
Particle size, viscosity, shelf life, minimum order quantity, production capacity and pricing are not in the supplied material and are therefore not shown. Please contact us and we will confirm the specifications you need.
We welcome inquiries from denim brands, fabric mills, dye houses, and printing companies.