The textile industry leaves one of the largest water footprints on the planet - as it consumes a substantial amount of water in its manufacturing processes, used mainly in dyeing and finishing processes. The wastewater from textile plants is classified as the most polluting of all the industrial sectors, considering the volume generated as well as the effluent composition. The increased demand for textile products, the increase in their production, and the use of synthetic dyes have together contributed to dye wastewater becoming one of the most significant sources of pollution to the world's waterways.
The industry's challenge is to adopt more water-friendly technologies. Enter sublimation dyeing - an environmentally conscious design process that is 100% waterless and low waste.
We use sublimation dyeing for all our patterned swimwear designs.
In this method, heat-activated dyes are used to transfer prints from the source to textile by the process of sublimation. Sublimation basically refers to the passage of molecules from the solid to gas state, without moving through a liquid state. During the printing process, heat is applied to sublimation dyes, to directly convert them into gaseous form. Simultaneously, the dye makes contact with a material, like elastane. Upon exposure to heat, the cloth fibres open, allowing the dyes to permeate into the fibre and bond with it permanently. The prints are therefore transferred from the source to the textile. All that is needed to permanently fix the colour is heat.The result? One of a kind prints that do not fade, minimal waste and no harm done to our waterways!