Haelixa has launched its “Marked & Traced by Haelixa” ingredient label for the textile and precious stones markets, allowing companies to prove their supply chain transparency to customers. The luxury fashion brand FTC Cashmere is the first clothing company to use the label.
Zurich based startup Haelixa has developed a DNA authenticity technology to bring transparency to businesses, allowing for traceability at all stages of their supply chains. Its DNA marker is an aqueous solution that is applied by spraying it on raw materials during production. Besides being colourless and odourless, the marker does not alter any properties of a product, and it is harmless to both humans and the environment. Local personnel are able to conduct the process and a paternity test performed either in the lab or on-site certifies each product, giving unique identities before being authorized to use the “Marked & Traced by Haelixa” label.
While the solution applies to a variety of fields, Haelixa today focuses on textile materials such as cotton and cashmere, as well as gemstones and diamonds. Its product is available in Europe, Switzerland and further pilot projects being tested in several Asian countries, including China and India.
In collaboration with FTC Cashmere, who works with high-quality, cashmere knits in the premium segment, Haelixa has applied its label onto cashmere clothing, making it the first client to use it. FTC Cashmere clothes with the “Marked & Traced by Haelixa” label are currently being sold in the Swiss luxury department store Jelmoli and Italian chain La Rinascente, amongst other retailers. Additionally, the company is also collaborating with Swiss companies including Spoerry 1866, WEBA and Nikin, as well as with The Good Cashmere Standard, which implements a benchmark standard for sustainable cashmere. In the precious stones segment, Haelixa is working with Gubelin on the Provenance Proof Initiative.
More milestones achieved
Haelixa has been officially approved as a chemical ingredient by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), the worldwide leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres. “The GOTS approval enables us to support the sustainability claims of organic products with forensic proof,” said Michela Puddu, CEO and co-founder of Haelixa. Besides being selected as finalists by Vogue Italia and Yoox in The Future of Responsible Fashion competition, the company made it to the finals of Loomish Fashion Innovation Award Sustainability Edition. The team recently settled in their new offices in Kemptthal, Zurich.
(RAN)
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