NIKE, Inc. unveiled recently the ColorDry Polo in a palette of vibrant colors – Nike’s first product available to consumers using ColorDry technology that dyes fabric with zero water.
It takes 30 liters of water to dye a T-shirt using traditional dyeing methods. ColorDry technology removes water from the dyeing process by using recycled CO2 to infuse fabric with intense, saturated color. The technology also saves energy and eliminates the need for added chemicals in the fabric dyeing process.
“The ColorDry Polo provides a glimpse into an advanced technology that delivers a brilliant spectrum of intense colors while eliminating the use of water and process chemicals. We’re excited about the potential of scaling ColorDry and applying waterless dyeing technology across other materials,” said Mike Yonker, Nike VP of Product Innovation.
UNCOMPROMISED PERFORMANCE
The ColorDry Polo embraces elegant, classic design with a modern twist. The polo uses Nike Dri-FIT technology to draw sweat away from the body through the fabric where it can quickly evaporate. The polo’s sleek design has clean seams throughout to give a striking appearance, while also increasing comfort and performance.
UNCOMPROMISED SUSTAINABILITY
The breakthrough of waterless dyeing is combined with another sustainable apparel innovation: recycled polyester. The ColorDry Polo is 100 percent recycled polyester, made from polyester manufacturing scraps and recycled plastic bottles that are washed, chopped into flakes and melted down to produce fine yarn used to create the polo’s fabric. An equivalent of nine recycled plastic bottles is used to make each polo. Since 2010, Nike has diverted more than two billion bottles from landfills, enough to cover over 3,500 full-sized soccer pitches.
ColorDry Polos will be available in six different colors June 12 on Nike.com and in select Nike Retail Stores.
The ColorDry Polo release follows Nike’s February 2012 strategic minority investment in Dutch start-up, DyeCoo Textile Systems B.V., a company that invented a technology to replace water, normally used for dyeing, with recycled CO2, reducing energy use and eliminating the need for added chemicals in the process. Last December, Nike announced the opening of a waterfree dyeing facility at its Taiwanese contract manufacturer Far Eastern New Century Corp.
