DYEING & PRINTING

Color, confirmed on the fabric itself.

Blugene’s dyeability and fastness, shade and product form. We show the data as confirmed on real fabric. Beyond denim, Blugene dyes a deep natural indigo blue into cashmere, silk, cotton yarn and many other yarns and fabrics. CutisBio is also running a project that reinterprets the jeogori, a traditional Korean garment, in Blugene colours, extending where bio-based indigo dye can be used.

Exhibition installation: long sheer panels of indigo fabric in different shades hang in front of a brick wall, with a white jacket displayed on top. — A jeogori, the traditional upper garment of Korean women, reinterpreted and dyed with Blugene, exhibited in Los Angeles together with Kolon FnC. Provided by CutisBio.

PERFORMANCE

Dyeability confirmed on real fabric.

Cotton, silk and cashmere were dyed with plant, chemical and bio indigo and compared. The catalogue records comparable performance in colorfastness to laundering, light, rubbing and perspiration.

Test photograph

Photograph of nine fabric swatches. From the left: cotton, silk and cashmere dyed with plant indigo (#1–#3), then chemical indigo (#4–#6), then bio indigo (#7–#9). — Catalog p.6 Figure 3-1.

Plant indigo
- #1Cotton
- #2Silk
- #3Cashmere
Chemical indigo
- #4Cotton
- #5Silk
- #6Cashmere
Bio indigo
- #7Cotton
- #8Silk
- #9Cashmere

PERFORMANCE

Colorfastness test results

These tables reproduce catalogue p.6 Tables 3-1 to 3-4 as they appear. Grades keep the ranking notation of the source (for example 4-5) and have not been converted into decimals.

Plant indigo: #1 Cotton#2 Silk#3 Cashmere
Chemical indigo: #4 Cotton#5 Silk#6 Cashmere
Bio indigo: #7 Cotton#8 Silk#9 Cashmere

3-1

Colorfastness to laundering

Test methodKS K ISO 105-C06:2010, A2S

Table 3-1. Colorfastness to laundering test results (samples #1–#9) — Test method KS K ISO 105-C06:2010, A2S
Test item		Plant indigo			Chemical indigo			Bio indigo
Test item		Sample #1	Sample #2	Sample #3	Sample #4	Sample #5	Sample #6	Sample #7	Sample #8	Sample #9
Color change	Color change	4-5	3-4	4-5	4-5	4	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
Staining	Acetate	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4
	Cotton	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
	Nylon	4-5	4-5	4	4-5	4-5	4	4	4	3-4
	Polyester	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
	Acrylic	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
	Wool	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5

3-2

Colorfastness to light

Test methodKS K ISO 105-B02:2014, Exposure Cycle A1, Method 5

Table 3-2. Colorfastness to light test results (samples #1–#9) — Test method KS K ISO 105-B02:2014, Exposure Cycle A1, Method 5
Test item	Plant indigo			Chemical indigo			Bio indigo
Test item	Sample #1	Sample #2	Sample #3	Sample #4	Sample #5	Sample #6	Sample #7	Sample #8	Sample #9
Color change	4	4-5	4-5	4	4	4-5	4	4-5	4-5

3-3

Colorfastness to rubbing

Test methodKS K ISO 105-X12:2016

Table 3-3. Colorfastness to rubbing test results (samples #1–#9, warp and weft) — Test method KS K ISO 105-X12:2016
Test item		Plant indigo						Chemical indigo						Bio indigo
		Sample #1		Sample #2		Sample #3		Sample #4		Sample #5		Sample #6		Sample #7		Sample #8		Sample #9
		Warp	Weft	Warp	Weft	Warp	Weft	Warp	Weft	Warp	Weft	Warp	Weft	Warp	Weft	Warp	Weft	Warp	Weft
Staining	Dry	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	3-4	3-4	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	1	2	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	2	2-3
Staining	Wet	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	3-4	3-4	4	4-5	4	4-5	3	3	4	4	4	3-4	3	3-4

3-4

Colorfastness to perspiration

Test methodKS K ISO 105-E04:2013

Table 3-4. Colorfastness to perspiration test results (samples #1–#9, acid and alkaline) — Test method KS K ISO 105-E04:2013
Test item		Plant indigo						Chemical indigo						Bio indigo
		Sample #1		Sample #2		Sample #3		Sample #4		Sample #5		Sample #6		Sample #7		Sample #8		Sample #9
		Acid	Alkaline	Acid	Alkaline	Acid	Alkaline	Acid	Alkaline	Acid	Alkaline	Acid	Alkaline	Acid	Alkaline	Acid	Alkaline	Acid	Alkaline
Color change	Color change	4-5	4-5	4	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4	3	4-5	4-5
Staining	Acetate	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
	Cotton	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
	Nylon	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
	Polyester	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
	Acrylic	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
	Wool	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5

The grade is a ranking value between 1 (low) and 5 (high), with ‘4-5’ indicating a range between the two grades, as per the original text. Grades recorded below 4 are highlighted in bold in the table.

This does not mean superiority in every category. Lower grades are also recorded for some colorfastness to rubbing items, and they appear in the tables exactly as recorded.

Original image of colorfastness Tables 3-1 to 3-4 on catalogue p.6

SHADE LIBRARY

Your brand. Your blue.

Shade depth changes with dye concentration and the number of dyeing cycles. Adjusting the ratio of indigo to indirubin makes it possible to create a shade that belongs to your brand alone.

Color development by number of dyeing cycles

Test photograph

Blugene dyeing demonstration case 1

Photo of skeins dyed with petrochemical indigo, Blugene 1 and Blugene 2 after 1, 3 and 5 dips, laid out in three rows and three columns — Dyeing comparison photo provided by CutisBio. Skeins dyed with petrochemical indigo, Blugene 1 and Blugene 2, photographed side by side after 1, 3 and 5 dips.

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.

Blugene dyeing demonstration case 2

Dyed 4 times, Dyed yarn — photo of dyed yarn, from top: Blugene1, Petrochemical indigo, Blugene2 — Dyed yarn photos provided by CutisBio. Yarn dyed with Blugene1, petrochemical indigo and Blugene2, compared after 4, 6 and 8 dyeing cycles and after one wash.

Dyed 4 times, After 1 wash — photo of dyed yarn, from top: Blugene1, Petrochemical indigo, Blugene2 — Dyed yarn photos provided by CutisBio. Yarn dyed with Blugene1, petrochemical indigo and Blugene2, compared after 4, 6 and 8 dyeing cycles and after one wash.

PRODUCT FORMS

Two forms: powder and printing ink.

Indigo made by microbial fermentation is supplied as a powder for fabric dyeing and as an ink for digital printing.

Deep blue bio indigo powder in a dish (catalogue p.9)

Blugene Indigo Powder

Catalogue p.8

Cotton, silk, and cashmere dyeing evaluation data are included in the catalog.

CAS: 482-89-3

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”.

Blugene Digital Printing Ink

Catalogue p.9

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.

PRINTED IN BLUE

Printing widens what color can say.

Digital printing places color exactly where it is needed and renders intricate patterns. Here are results printed with bio indigo ink, shown alongside the original images.

Original image
Original image 1 used for digital printing (catalogue p.9 Figure 6-2)
Photographs from the supplied catalogue, resized for the web without any color correction.
Printed with bio indigo ink
The same image 1 digitally printed with bio indigo ink (catalogue p.9 Figure 6-2)
Photographs from the supplied catalogue, resized for the web without any color correction.
Original image
Original image 2 used for digital printing (catalogue p.9 Figure 6-2)
Photographs from the supplied catalogue, resized for the web without any color correction.
Printed with bio indigo ink
The same image 2 digitally printed with bio indigo ink (catalogue p.9 Figure 6-2)
Photographs from the supplied catalogue, resized for the web without any color correction.

Ink manufacturing flow

The stages shown in catalogue p.9 Figure 6-1. The original labels are given alongside.

Raw Material Preparation
Raw Material Preparation
The bio indigo powder and auxiliary materials are weighed out and prepared.
Premixing
Premixing
The materials are pre-mixed with the dispersion medium.
Milling
Milling
The particles are ground and dispersed uniformly.
Filtration
Filtration
Residual particles are filtered out to bring the ink to a state suited to printing.
Formation
Formation
The ink is adjusted into its final form. (Original catalogue label: Formation)

Diagram of the ink manufacturing flow from raw material preparation through premixing, milling and filtration to formation (catalogue p.9)

The final stage in the catalogue is written as “Formation”. We keep the original wording rather than replacing it with a settled process term. This is not a disclosure of the exact production recipe.

Characteristics of digital printing

High-resolution patterns and color combinations that are difficult to achieve with conventional dyeing become possible.
Color is placed only where it is needed, which also suits small production runs.
Complex designs are easy to reproduce consistently.

Request a fabric sample

Color, confirmed on the fabric itself.

Dyeability confirmed on real fabric.

Plant indigo

Chemical indigo

Bio indigo