Sages
Sages (SAGES London) is a London-based startup that develops biodegradable, water-soluble industrial dyes from food waste streams such as onion skins and coffee grounds, selling them B2B to fashion brands, textile manufacturers, and sustainable material companies as like-for-like replacements for synthetic dyes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sages does
Sages (legal entity: SAGES London) is a London-based private startup founded in 2021 that develops biodegradable, water-soluble dyes derived from food waste streams such as onion skins and coffee grounds. Its proprietary phytochemical extraction and biochemical dyeing processes convert these waste feedstocks into industrial-grade textile dyes that serve as like-for-like replacements for petroleum- and coal-tar-based synthetic dyes. The dyes operate at 60°C, are compatible with cellulose and protein fibers, and have achieved industry-standard light and wash fastness results certified by Intertek.
The company sells its dyes on a B2B enterprise basis to fashion brands, textile manufacturers, and material companies, engaging in custom color development and supply partnerships. Named engagements include custom dye shades for designer Patrick McDowell's SS25 London Fashion Week runway collection, a partnership with plant-based fiber maker Bananatex, a composite countertop color collaboration with James Burleigh, and trial dyeing at a UK dye-house partner for sustainable fashion brand Story Mfg. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with high-visibility event-driven showcasing (fashion weeks, press in the Sunday Times and Architecture Magazine).
Sages is pre-commercialization in scale, with revenue not disclosed. The company has raised approximately £690,000 in grant funding through Innovate UK (£500,000) and the British Design Fund (£190,000), plus earlier equity rounds from SFC Capital. The team of six named individuals is led by Co-founder & CEO Emily Taylor, Co-founder & CTO Alice Simpson, and COO Courtney Plumb, and the company is currently hiring a senior Process Engineer to scale pilot production systems.
Sages firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sages
- Legal name
- SAGES London
- Website
- https://sageslondon.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sages (SAGES London) is a London-based startup that develops biodegradable, water-soluble industrial dyes from food waste streams such as onion skins and coffee grounds, selling them B2B to fashion brands, textile manufacturers, and sustainable material companies as like-for-like replacements for synthetic dyes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sages industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Textile Dyes
- NAICS
- Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pigments & Dyes (IMAEAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dyeing Operations (Piece/Yarn/Fiber/Garment) (IMAOACAB), Biobased, Compostable & Low-Impact Material Innovation (Bio-polymers/Dope Dyeing) (IMAOAMAM)
Keywords
Where Sages is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sages business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Sustainable Dye Sales to Textile and Fashion Brands: Sages sells its bio-based dyes directly to fashion brands, textile manufacturers, and material companies for use in production. The company develops custom colour formulations for brand partners and supplies dyes for integration into existing industrial dyeing processes.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Sages product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sages (SAGES London) manufactures and supplies biodegradable, water-soluble industrial textile dyes derived from food waste feedstocks such as onion skins and coffee grounds. The dyes operate at 60°C, meet Intertek-certified industry-standard light and wash fastness, and serve as a like-for-like replacement for petroleum- and coal-tar-based synthetic dyes in cellulose and protein fibre dyeing processes. The company also develops custom dye shades for fashion and interior design brand partners.
Product overview
SAGES is a London-based startup that offers a single unified product: sustainable bio-based dyes derived from food waste. The core product is a range of biodegradable, water-soluble textile dyes that replace toxic synthetic dyes. The product portfolio includes various colour shades (such as Oxblood, and shades with product codes like R060PM, O152BT, G182BT, B205BT, P203BT) designed for industrial dyeing of cellulose and protein fibres. SAGES dyes operate at 60°C and have been tested across multiple fibre types, achieving industry-standard fastness results certified by Intertek. The company also provides custom dye development services for brand partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SAGES Sustainable Bio-Based Dyes Biodegradable, water-soluble industrial textile dyes made from food waste feedstocks (onion skins, coffee grounds) that serve as a like-for-like replacement for synthetic petroleum- and coal-tar-based dyes. The dyes are effective at 60°C, suitable for cellulose and protein fibres, and certified by Intertek for industry-standard light and wash fastness. Sold to fashion brands, textile manufacturers, and material companies.
- Custom Dye Development Service Bespoke colour formulation and dye development service for enterprise brand partners, including fashion designers, textile manufacturers, and interior design brands. Sages works directly with each partner to develop tailored dye shades that can be integrated into the partner's industrial dyeing processes.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% CO2e reduction when compared to traditional synthetic dyes
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sages
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sages technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Sages partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Global Food Businesses (Waste Feedstock Partners)coreSages secured waste partnerships with global food businesses as part of its Innovate UK project, providing the company with consistent feedstock supply (e.g., onion skins, coffee waste) for its dye production.
- Patrick McDowellflagshipSages developed custom dye shades for fashion designer Patrick McDowell's SS25 runway collection revealed at London Fashion Week, combining bold design with bio-innovation to showcase sustainable colouration on the catwalk.
- James BurleighminorIn partnership with James Burleigh, Sages developed a custom Milkshake Pink colour for composite countertops using food waste-derived dyes, demonstrating versatility of the dye technology beyond textiles.
- BananatexcoreBananatex and Sages collaborated to dye a range of Bananatex's innovative plant-based fibres using the Sages colour palette. The companies are actively working to bring the dyed fabric to market through brand partnerships.
- Story MfgminorGarments from Story Mfg's core collections were dyed with Sages dyes at a UK dye-house partner as part of a trial exploring sustainable, bio-based colour options for the brand's production process.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sages competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Colorifix: UK-based biotech company that engineers microorganisms to produce pigments and dyes as a sustainable alternative to synthetic textile dyes. Direct competitor to SAGES in bio-based textile colouration with similar B2B brand-partnership GTM.
- Pili Bio: French bio-based dye and pigment company using fermentation of renewable feedstocks (sugars) to produce colourants for textiles and beyond. Closely comparable technology category (bio-based pigment production) and same end-market focus.
- Huue: US-based startup developing bio-engineered indigo dye for denim using microbial fermentation, replacing synthetic indigo. Direct competitor in the bio-based dye-for-fashion vertical, particularly the indigo/denim segment.
- Stony Creek Colors: US-based producer of plant-derived natural dyes (notably indigo from indigofera plants) for the textile industry. Closely comparable business model — natural feedstock to dye conversion for industrial fashion customers.
Emerging players
- Tinctorium: US-based startup developing microbial fermentation-based dyes for textiles and other materials. Comparable technology platform and target market, but earlier stage and US-focused.
- DyeCoo Textile Systems: Dutch company pioneering waterless dyeing technology using supercritical CO2 as an alternative to water-intensive textile dyeing. Tangential but comparable in offering the textile industry a sustainability-led alternative to conventional dyeing.
Broad incumbents
- Archroma: Global specialty chemicals incumbent serving the textile industry, with established dye portfolios including bio-based offerings like EarthColors (made from agricultural waste). Represents both a competitive threat and a potential exit/acquirer for bio-dye innovators.
- Huntsman Textile Effects: Division of Huntsman Corporation and one of the world's largest producers of textile dyes and chemicals. Incumbent with global manufacturing scale, deep dye-house relationships, and ongoing R&D into sustainable dye alternatives.
- DyStar: Global leader in textile dyes and auxiliaries, supplying major fashion brands worldwide. The dominant incumbent SAGES must displace; also represents a potential acquirer as the industry transitions toward sustainable inputs.
Others
- Bananatex: Producer of plant-based (abaca banana) textile fibres, and an existing SAGES collaboration partner. Adjacent supplier rather than competitor, but representative of the sustainable fibre ecosystem SAGES serves and depends on for downstream adoption.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sages social profiles
Digital presenceSages financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sages leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sages funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sages M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sages
What does Sages do?
Sages (SAGES London) manufactures and supplies biodegradable, water-soluble industrial textile dyes derived from food waste feedstocks such as onion skins and coffee grounds. The dyes operate at 60°C, meet Intertek-certified industry-standard light and wash fastness, and serve as a like-for-like replacement for petroleum- and coal-tar-based synthetic dyes in cellulose and protein fibre dyeing processes. The company also develops custom dye shades for fashion and interior design brand partners.
Is Sages a public or private company?
Sages is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sages founded?
Sages was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sages based?
Sages is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sages make money?
One revenue line is on record: sustainable Dye Sales to Textile and Fashion Brands.
Who are Sages's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Colorifix, Pili Bio, Huue and Stony Creek Colors. Emerging players are Tinctorium and DyeCoo Textile Systems. Broad incumbents are Archroma, Huntsman Textile Effects and DyStar. Bananatex is listed as an others.
Does Sages have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sages.
What industry is Sages in?
Sages's product category is Sustainable Textile Dyes. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAHAJ, Pigments & Dyes, with a secondary code of IMAOACAB, Dyeing Operations (Piece/Yarn/Fiber/Garment). Its NAICS code is 32513 and its SIC code is 2860.