Pangaia gives Sparxell the thumbs up
Fashion and materials science company Pangaia has worked with Sparxell and research company the Manufacturing Technology Centre to validate its biodegradable reflective pigment.
Sparxell’s process creates vibrant colour particles using cellulose as a base, making them free from plastics.
Pangaia tested the pigments on textiles in collaboration with London-based Orto Print Studio, producing printed fabric prototypes and testing durability.
Coventry-based MTC ensured the pigments could be scaled beyond the lab, building custom production systems and validating performance at an industrial level.
Sparxell was spun-out of Cambridge University in 2023, was part of LVMH’s La Maison des Startups incubator, and received €1.9 million from the European Innovation Council this summer. It has made “significant improvements” in pigment formulation, liquid dispersion and film casting performance, it said. A commercial launch is projected for 2026.
This summer, Sparxell launched its first textile ink product, blue, with matt or shimmer finishes.
