Prince William joined forces with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett to visit one of his Earthshot Prize finalists in Norwich that are making clothing more sustainable
Prince William joked he should have paid more attention in chemistry as he toured laboratories making sustainable clothing dye with Cate Blanchett. The Oscar-winning actress joined Prince William in Norwich on Thursday for a visit to UK-based company Colorifix, an Earthshot Prize finalist in 2023.
Ms Blanchett, who sits on the Earthshot Prize Council and previously joined the heir to the throne for the prize awards in Singapore two years ago, said the tour will change the way she looks at what colours to wear. The pair visited four different laboratories that each illustrated a step in Colorifix’s process of making environmentally friendly fabric dye.
After learning about the technical DNA sequencing of natural colours, William quipped: “Today has just made me realise I should have listened in all of my chemistry lessons. Going back over all those old notes like ‘Damn, why didn’t I pay more attention’.”
Speaking afterwards, Ms Blanchett, who has won two Academy Awards for her performances in The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, said: “The DNA sequencing is incredible. And I think what happens in any scientific process – though I’m far from an expert – is that you get these incredible happy accidents. Like the discovery of a metallic sheen to one of the pigments.”
Some colours are more difficult to make sustainably rather than using petrochemicals – which pollute the planet and are harmful to wildlife – including black, green, white and blue. Ms Blanchett said the visit had “certainly been an education in colour and what is possible,” and added that in the future, she will “certainly look at the amount of white and black and blue in my wardrobe and maybe try and gravitate towards pinks and peaches”.
Colorifix uses DNA sequencing and natural colours to create sustainable dyes with an aim to replace the fashion industry’s use of chemically synthesised dyes. The industry of fabric dying currently consumes five trillion litres of water globally each year and harms wildlife by dangerous chemicals seeping into water sources.
Colorifix aims to reduce this impact by identifying a colour created naturally, either by an animal, plant or microbe and then using the DNA to pinpoint where that colour is coded in the genetics of that organism.
The DNA code is then translated into a safe microbe that is transported to a dye house, which supports the growth of the colour through fermentation. The result is a dye that can be transferred to fabrics using no added petrochemicals.
Through the visit, Ms Blanchett and Prince William were able to learn how Colorifix identifies the code that produces the pigment and then how the resulting dye liquid they make is attached to fabric. Wearing long lab coats, the pair were invited to look at the DNA under a microscope as well as view the fermentation process firsthand.
In an impromptu speech to Colorifix’s staff at the end, William praised their work and the ability of the start-up to scale since being named as an Earthshot finalist in 2023.
”I know it’s taken us a bit of time to get here, but you’re doing really well,” he said, adding: “Best of luck, it’s going really well and it’s really exciting. I know you’re going to be pushing the industry very quickly so well done.” The heir to the throne also hailed the “magicians” at the end of the process, when the dye gets transferred onto nine available different types of fabric.
Colorifix, which already works with high street giant H&M on some of its clothing, also takes steps to reduce its carbon footprint at every step of the process.
Ms Blanchett, who keenly asked questions throughout the tour of the various labs, said afterwards: “Even within six to 12 months, and in the time that I’ve become aware of [Colorifix’s] activities, and where it is now 12 months down the track is so exciting, just how quickly these things can be scaled up and evolve.”
Orr Yarkoni, the co-founder and chief executive of the company, said that a “big difficulty” they have faced in scaling up is that brands have already cemented their logistics. He said: “The big difficulty here in scaling isn’t just getting to scale, it’s getting to scale at the place because the brands have already set up their logistics – we make over here, we dye over here and then we cut trim over here and then it goes to warehousing.
“So if you’re not applying the technology where they’re already dying…we can’t be everywhere at the same time. So that’s the big challenge.” Mr Yarkoni added: “We need to implement where the supply chain is. Rather than trying to get the industry to adapt to us, we need to do everything to adapt to the industry and make it easy for them to change.”
Ms Blanchett said that brands doing small-scale collaborations “is an exciting model” because “people can really engage in those cross-fertilisations. They have short burn but introduce people to a different way of doing things,” she explained.
The visit marked Ms Blanchett’s ongoing support for William’s Earthshot Prize, established in 2020, which awards £1 million annually to five inventors who have come up with new solutions to help save the planet.
The actress has previously praised the Prince’s initiative for recognising “innovations that are not only game-changing but rapidly scalable”. William said last year that with Earthshot, he wants to “celebrate talent and solutions, rather than telling people ‘don’t do this or don’t do that’.”
“You’ve got to be so careful because there’s been a lot of that,” he said. “I don’t want to preach, I want to find solutions.”
The next Earthshot Prize Awards will be held in Brazil in November, with a host of celebrities including Sir David Beckham, Heidi Klum, Billy Porter, Hannah Waddingham and Robert Irwin. The event is being held ahead of COP30, the UN environmental summit, which the Prince also hopes to attend.
Announcing this year’s location, William, the founder and president of the Earthshot Prize, said: “We need urgent optimism now more than ever, and I think Brazil epitomises that.” He added: “We are seeing fresh momentum for new ideas to create healthier and safer ways to live our lives. It is an honour to profile the people making our world a better place for us and for our children.”
