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17-25 October 2026

The Many Lives of Colour

Exploring novel ways to dye with textile waste

Hosted by Studio Sarmite x Roua Atelier

This project is now archived and was part of DDW22

Pre-Loved biotextile
Pre-Loved biotextile
Marion Haigneré
Can colour make textile waste attractive? When recycling not only fibres but also colour itself – what new production methods emerge? Studio Sarmite together with Roua Atelier are presenting a pioneering dyeing process for unrecyclable textile fibres otherwise sent to landfill.

Textile waste redefined

Pre-Loved, is a new material concept in which inferior textile fibres can be turned into a biotextile over and over again. This material, developed by Studio Sarmite skips the need for traditional textile recycling entirely. Instead it focusses on keeping this resource in the cycle for as long as possible by creating a non-woven leather-like material.

How does colour live and change from one lifecycle to the next one?

In order to remove the existing stigma of recycled textiles, both designers use natural and recycled pigments. Their primary focus becomes not only the fibres that are recycled numerous times but also the colour itself. Further, the dyeing is integrated within the making of the bio-textile leading to a unique design language. The dyeing becomes the designing, which gives room for surprising patterns and playfulness. This project has been commissioned by Small But Perfect, Impact Hub Lisbon and Fashion Revolution.
Pre-Loved Biotextile
Pre-Loved Biotextile
Marion Haigneré

About Studio Sarmite x Roua Atelier

Studio Sarmite is a natural materials design and research studio. Led by Latvian designer Sarmite Polakova, the studio work focuses on transforming industry waste and various byproducts into new high-quality materials that can be brought back to the market. Roua Atelier is set up by Roua ALHalabi, a natural dye specialist in the textile industry who combines many diverse developing natural pigments and forgotten techniques.

Colofon

Material explorer and designer Sarmite Polakova
Natural Dye and techniques specialist Roua Alhalabi

Partners

Sponsored by The Many Lives of Colour
Sponsored by The Many Lives of Colour