From the lab bench to fashion week!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
The chemicals in fabric dyes are harmful to the environment, polluting our water sources. Researchers are looking for eco-friendly ways to modify fabrics.
Like Rafael Grande and team from the University of Sao Paulo.
They took a naturally occurring pigment from fruits that can change color depending on acidity. They also combined it with lavender oil for a fresh scent. This mixture was enclosed in capsules made of shrimp shells.
Results? An all-natural dye that resisted fading after extended light exposure! Plus an added lavender scent that diffused slowly over time.
Boy, the impact of sustainable fashion is SCENT-sational! And a bit shrimpy…
Reference: Grande, R., Teodoro, K. B. R., Bertho, I. S., Pinheiro, I. F., Ambrozin, A. R. P., Corrêa, D. S., Balogh, D. T., & Sanfelice, R. C. (2025). Anthocyanin-dyed cotton enhanced with lavender oil microcapsules: A dual approach for color stability and sustained fragrance release. ACS Omega, 10(22), 22459–22471. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c09486