Soko provides sustainable chemical solutions to textile producers
Soko is an Italy-based textile chemical innovator focused on sustainable, performance-driven solutions that optimise textile processes and help brands improve environmental performance while maintaining quality and cost efficiency.
In conversation with Fibre2Fashion, Marketing & Technology Manager Luca Braschi spoke about the company’s pioneering technologies such as Lumia and Hydrogel which are gaining industry traction for reducing hazardous chemicals, water use, and production steps across denim and other fabric applications.
What key problems in textile processing does Soko focus on solving through its product portfolio?
Soko supports brands and textile producers in advancing sustainability standards by providing efficient and responsible chemical solutions, combined with dedicated technical support.
Through continuous research and close collaboration with production partners, Soko helps optimise textile processes and address the challenges posed by the transition toward a more sustainable industry.
This approach enables brands to improve environmental performance and cost efficiency while maintaining high levels of quality and reliability.
What sparked hydrogel technology and Lumia idea, and how have the industry partners reacted to this?
Lumia was born from the desire to optimise and enhance ozone technology, which, in our view, had not yet fully expressed its potential. This innovation has marked a true point of no return in the finishing world.
For the first time, it has been possible to achieve extremely authentic vintage effects using ozone under dry conditions, without the use of pumice stone, water, or other oxidising agents: elements that the industry has been striving for years to significantly reduce in production processes.
Hydrogel, one of our most recent innovations, aims to drastically reduce production times, water consumption, and stress on fabrics, thanks to its ability to combine multiple process steps into a single phase and to gel water. It, therefore, represents an innovative and sustainable method for fabric treatment.
Both products, Lumia and subsequently Hydrogel are increasingly being adopted in industrial processes, as they are perceived as an effective evolution for achieving more ambitious sustainability goals.
Do you foresee solutions like Hydrogel evolving beyond denim into sportswear, luxury, footwear, or home textiles?
Hydrogel is already being used on materials other than denim; thanks to its ability to protect fibres from the mechanical stress typical of treatment processes. It is also suitable for delicate fabrics such as wool.
It is a recent and innovative process, still open to exploration and to the development of new applications on different fibres.
How do you guarantee batch-to-batch consistency when products and processes are implemented across multiple continents?
All raw materials used in the production of our products are of European origin and comply with regulations that certify their quality and batch-to-batch consistency.
Some products, manufactured at our overseas facilities for local supply, are subject to rigorous quality controls before being formulated and commercialised.
Soko engages directly with brands, fabric producers, and the supply chain. How does this hands-on collaboration influence your R&D and product development strategy?
Collaborating with different industry players is essential to ensure a dedicated and optimal service. Moreover, this exchange fuels our R&D department, driving the development of concrete solutions to the challenges required by the transition toward a lower-impact industry.
How does Soko balance performance, safety, and environmental compliance across global markets?
It is purely a matter of priorities. Ours is fully focused on balancing these elements through intensive research into non-hazardous raw materials and the development of targeted applications aimed at optimising processes and reducing the use of natural resources.
How is the textile chemical industry adapting to rising demand for eco-friendly, high-performance formulations?
It is an evolutionary process that began over 15 years ago with the first detox movements, when brands and the industry started replacing hazardous components with lower-impact alternatives.
Initially, it was challenging to find raw materials with comparable performance, but over time, through targeted research and investments, we developed increasingly effective solutions.
Today, our focus is on reducing the costs of bio-based raw materials by optimising product applications, driven by the strong commitment of our technical team.
What emerging technologies are expected to significantly improve efficiency and sustainability in textile processing over the next few years?
We believe that ozone technology still holds significant potential for further development.
As a chemical manufacturer, our priority is to create an increasingly optimised synergy between technology and chemistry, enhancing the performance of both.
Digital printing is also an interesting technology.
What future technologies or chemical innovations is Soko currently investing in?
We are a strongly research-driven company, introducing new innovations to the market every 2–3 months. Currently, we are focused on improving performance and reducing process times to provide production facilities with more efficient, cost-effective solutions, addressing one of the main challenges of today’s economic environment.
What would be the ultimate moonshot innovation for denim and garment finishing in your view: zero water, zero chemistry, self-fading textiles, or something else?
We believe that applying products such as Lumia directly onto the fabric can reduce costs and resource consumption, creating ‘ozone-ready’ or ‘laser-ready’ materials that, once garment-made, require only a single step such as ozone to complete up to 90 per cent of the process.
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.
