CleanKore advances sustainability from dyeing through finishing
CleanKore is a patented denim dyeing technology that delivers significant sustainability and operational benefits by reducing water, chemical, and energy use, and improving wash efficiency. Supported by global partnerships, the technology is being adopted across existing rope and slasher dyeing lines worldwide, with proven and verified results.
In an interview with Fibre2Fashion, CEO Darryl Costin Jr highlighted that through proven trials and a full support network across mills and laundries, CleanKore is helping the industry overcome resistance and make tangible progress toward sustainability.
How does the CleanKore dyeing process differ from traditional rope dyeing and slasher dyeing?
CleanKore’s patented technology preserves the interior of the yarn by preventing dye penetration. Unlike traditional dyeing methods that fully saturate the yarn, our process creates a pronounced white core with a controlled dye ring around the perimeter.
The technology works on existing rope and slasher dyeing machines, introducing a series of unique process modifications across the dye range without requiring new equipment or additional chemicals.
What challenges did you face in convincing mills and brands to adopt the CleanKore technology, and how did you overcome their resistance?
The industry is slow to change, even when solutions are better for the environment and do not add cost, often due to multiple decision-making layers across the supply chain.
However, through proven trials, verified savings, retailer success stories, and a global team supporting every step, we have enabled partners to move forward with confidence.
How does CleanKore fit into current denim production lines, and what ROI can partners expect?
CleanKore integrates seamlessly into existing denim production lines, requiring no capital investment from mills and delivering immediate returns without upfront costs.
What role does CleanKore play in helping brands meet their sustainability targets?
By reducing water, chemical, and energy use, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, eliminating PP spray, and shortening production time, CleanKore delivers measurable sustainability gains across the denim supply chain and supports brands in meeting their environmental commitments.
These resource and labour efficiencies enable CleanKore to help customers achieve sustainability targets without increasing overall costs.
Which collaborations or brand partnerships have been most pivotal in scaling the CleanKore technology globally?
Our partnership with Epic Group has been pivotal in scaling CleanKore technology globally.
We have also recently announced a strategic collaboration with HMS HandMadeStone.
Sharing a common vision for eco-advanced, cost-effective denim solutions, CleanKore reduces water, chemical, and energy use at the dyeing stage while eliminating PP spray, while HMS replaces pumice stones with circular washing stones that eliminate sludge and further reduce resource consumption.
As regulations for cleaner manufacturing tighten, how is CleanKore positioning itself to serve the next wave of compliance-driven demand?
We want to advance sustainability without increasing costs. Greater adoption of CleanKore fabrics directly drives reductions in carbon footprint.
With experience across 600+ developments and partnerships with more than 32 denim mills, CleanKore is designed to scale seamlessly, offering ease of adoption without added garment costs or implementation limitations, thus making it an ideal solution for brands.
Are there plans to expand into other textiles or processing solutions?
The denim industry is vast, and our current footprint represents less than one per cent of its overall scale, which underscores the significant growth potential ahead.
While our primary focus remains on expanding within denim, we remain open to evolving and exploring opportunities across other textile and processing solutions as we grow.
What innovations or upgrades is CleanKore currently working on?
We are expanding CleanKore beyond indigo and black into colour denim which will allow brands to use and market CleanKore technology consistently across their full assortment.
We are also partnering with like-minded companies such HMS HandMadeStone to combine sustainable technologies to offer total solutions to the denim community.
Furthermore, we are placing greater focus on our laundry partners, as this is the segment of the supply chain where CleanKore can deliver the most significant reductions in carbon footprint.
What are the biggest barriers to making the denim industry more sustainable today?
Cost remains the biggest barrier to making denim more sustainable, as brands are under pressure to meet sustainability benchmarks without impacting their bottom line.
CleanKore addresses this challenge by delivering sustainability gains alongside cost neutrality or even cost savings across full-package garments for supply-chain partners.
We believe meaningful progress begins with a willingness to break down barriers and think differently. The industry must reimagine denim from the fibre stage through to the finished garment. By holding ourselves accountable, working collaboratively, and moving beyond greenwashing, we can drive real, lasting change.
How is the denim and textile industry accelerating the shift toward low-water, low-chemical manufacturing technologies?
The transition remains slow, largely due to intense cost competition at the retail level, which limits the industry’s ability to rapidly adopt new manufacturing technologies despite clear environmental benefits.
What innovations are most likely to redefine sustainable fibre processing and circularity in the next five years?
Closed-loop systems and no-discharge processing innovations are expected to be the key drivers of sustainable fibre processing and circularity over the next five years.
Interviewer: Shilpi Panjabi
Published on: 14/01/2026
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
