Colourant specialist Sparxell gets key fashion innovation recognition
The UK company has been named among the prestigious 'ChangeNow Change 100' winners for 2025, joining 'a definitive list of the top sustainability start-ups to watch this year'.
And during the recent ChangeNow summit in Paris, the company was additionally awarded the jury's 'Coups de Cœur' recognition in the fashion category, highlighting its game-changing potential to transform the fashion industry'.
Sparxell, a University of Cambridge spin-out and 'developer of the world's first high-performance, plant-based colourant technology', joins an elite group 'demonstrating exceptional impact potential, scalability, and business viability while creatively rethinking industry standards'.
It said this latest achievement reinforces its 'growing momentum as it transforms the $48 billion global colourants market with its revolutionary 100% plant-based, high-performance biodegradable colour platform'.
Dr Benjamin Droguet, founder and CEO of Sparxell said the two recognitions 'validate our mission to revolutionise how industries approach colour.
'This comes at a pivotal moment as we scale our technology to transform how the entire fashion industry approaches colour. Through this innovation, we're not just creating sustainable products - we're helping shape a world where beautiful, high-performance materials work in harmony with nature rather than against it.'
This recognition comes as Sparxell recently secured a €1.9 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC), adding to investments from the L'Oréal-backed Circular Innovation Fund and support from Innovate UK.
It has also established partnerships with luxury brands under LVMH's La Maison des Startups.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LeMonde
3 hours ago
- LeMonde
Cognac drags down LVMH's spirits division
The engine driving cognac sales has yet to regain full speed. LVMH acknowledged it in its half-year results, published Thursday, July 24. Moët Hennessy, its wine and spirits division – of which British company Diageo owns 34% – reported an 8% drop in revenue to €2.58 billion. This marks a further slide after an 11% decline over 2024, to €5.9 billion. The blow was even harsher for recurring operating profit, which fell by one-third to €524 million in the first six months of 2025. The group, led by Bernard Arnault, explained the disappointing performance due to "weak demand for cognac" and "the impact on customers of trade tensions weighing on key markets in the US and China." The US and China accounted for 80% of sales of the prized Charente region spirit, whose leading brand is Hennessy. Across the Atlantic, LVMH – and major competitors such as Pernod Ricard, owner of Martell, or Rémy Cointreau, known for its Rémy Martin brand – were caught off guard. After the post-Covid-19 boom, the wave of inflation disrupted consumer behavior. They suddenly became more cautious about spending just as spirits groups continued to raise their prices. The drop-off was abrupt. Chinese customers also adopted a wait-and-see attitude, troubled by their country's economic slowdown. After trade battles On top of this new consumer mindset, fierce trade battles compounded the problem. Since early 2024, cognac has been ensnared in a conflict between Europe and China. The sector breathed a sigh of relief in early July. Although Beijing decided to impose 32% tariffs on European wine-based spirits, most companies that agreed to set a minimum price – in effect, a price increase ranging from 12% to 16% – were granted exemptions. LVMH benefited from this agreement. Likewise, Rémy Cointreau revised down the impact of Chinese tariffs on Friday, July 25, from €40 million to €10 million. Conversely, the impact in the US would rise from €25 million to €35 million.
Fashion Network
7 hours ago
- Fashion Network
LVMH shares rise after mixed bag results with 'glimmers of hope'
Shares in French luxury group LVMH rose on Friday after the group reported quarterly results, with analysts pointing to hopes on the horizon as the group said it saw some signs of recovery in the key Chinese market. LVMH's quarterly sales for products like Louis Vuitton handbags, Dior dresses and Moet & Chandon champagne came in slightly below expectations, at 19.5 billion euros (22.88 billion dollars), down 4% year-on-year, with a 9% sales drop at the group's core leather and fashion division. After an initial dip at market open as investors grappled to get a reading of what Citi analysts called a "mixed bag" of results, LVMH shares steadily reversed course, trading 3.5% up midday and lifting sector peers Kering and Hermes. HSBC analysts said in a note that higher-than-expected profit margins were a sign the group has become more pragmatic and efficient under the leadership of CFO Cecile Cabanis, who was appointed at the end of 2024. Deutsche Bank analyst Adam Cochrane said that while the second-quarter results were not "stellar", there were some "glimmers of hope". "Investors have been waiting for an opportunity to revisit this stock and the conference call highlighted a number of factors which may encourage a tangible recovery in China, market share gains in key brands and potential for structural efficiencies as well as ongoing tight cost management", he wrote in a note. LVMH's finance chief on Thursday said the company saw some "tangible improvement" In China, where a real estate crisis has dampened appetite for luxury goods. French luxury heavyweights have been facing a prolonged downturn as brands also face the threat of U.S. import tariffs.
Fashion Network
7 hours ago
- Fashion Network
LVMH shares rise after mixed bag results with 'glimmers of hope'
Shares in French luxury group LVMH rose on Friday after the group reported quarterly results, with analysts pointing to hopes on the horizon as the group said it saw some signs of recovery in the key Chinese market. LVMH's quarterly sales for products like Louis Vuitton handbags, Dior dresses and Moet & Chandon champagne came in slightly below expectations, at 19.5 billion euros (22.88 billion dollars), down 4% year-on-year, with a 9% sales drop at the group's core leather and fashion division. After an initial dip at market open as investors grappled to get a reading of what Citi analysts called a "mixed bag" of results, LVMH shares steadily reversed course, trading 3.5% up midday and lifting sector peers Kering and Hermes. HSBC analysts said in a note that higher-than-expected profit margins were a sign the group has become more pragmatic and efficient under the leadership of CFO Cecile Cabanis, who was appointed at the end of 2024. Deutsche Bank analyst Adam Cochrane said that while the second-quarter results were not "stellar", there were some "glimmers of hope". "Investors have been waiting for an opportunity to revisit this stock and the conference call highlighted a number of factors which may encourage a tangible recovery in China, market share gains in key brands and potential for structural efficiencies as well as ongoing tight cost management", he wrote in a note. LVMH's finance chief on Thursday said the company saw some "tangible improvement" In China, where a real estate crisis has dampened appetite for luxury goods. French luxury heavyweights have been facing a prolonged downturn as brands also face the threat of U.S. import tariffs.
