Crùbag
Scottish boutique textile studio Crùbag, founded in 2013, makes marine science-inspired scarves, bow-ties, and accessories for consumers plus bespoke textile design services for purpose-driven organisations. It incubated SeaDyes, a seaweed-based dye innovation now housed at the James Hutton Institute.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersOban, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Crùbag does
Crùbag is a Scottish boutique textile design studio and materials innovation lab operating as CRÙBAG LTD, headquartered across offices in Oban and Dundee. Founded in 2013, the company produces scarves, bow-ties, pocket squares, and throws made from organic silk twill, with designs inspired by marine science and ocean themes. It serves two customer segments: direct-to-consumer fashion-conscious buyers via a Shopify storefront (currently temporarily closed for relocation), and B2B purpose-driven organisations through bespoke textile design and consultancy services.
The company's most significant technical asset is SeaDyes®, a registered seaweed-based dye innovation for fashion and textiles. Originally developed as a joint project with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), SeaDyes was separated into an independent marine biotech startup in July 2023 and subsequently absorbed as a spin-in of the James Hutton Institute in January 2025. This trajectory positions Crùbag as a materials innovation lab that successfully incubated and graduated a separate marine biotech venture, retaining ongoing research collaboration through co-location at the James Hutton Institute.
The business model combines one-time D2C product sales with project-based professional services revenue from bespoke textile design work, including collaborations such as the SAMS Ocean Explorer Tartan. International shipping is offered at £12.50 per order with free UK shipping. The company maintains a headcount of 1-10 employees, operates without disclosed external funding, and is positioned as a mission-driven brand centred on ocean conservation. The transfer of SeaDyes to the James Hutton Institute represents a material restructuring of the company's innovation pipeline, effectively converting an internal R&D asset into an institutional partnership.
Crùbag firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crùbag
- Legal name
- CRÙBAG LTD
- Website
- https://crubag.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Scottish boutique textile studio Crùbag, founded in 2013, makes marine science-inspired scarves, bow-ties, and accessories for consumers plus bespoke textile design services for purpose-driven organisations. It incubated SeaDyes, a seaweed-based dye innovation now housed at the James Hutton Institute.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Crùbag is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oban
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Crùbag business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales (B2C): Direct-to-consumer sales of artful scarves, bow-ties, pocket squares and throws featuring marine science-inspired designs. One-time product purchases through e-commerce storefront.
- B2B Consultancy Services: Bespoke textile design and consultancy services for purpose-driven organisations. Business to business services continue operating while online store is temporarily closed.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard international shipping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Crùbag product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crùbag is an ocean-focused boutique textile design studio based in Scotland that produces artful silk twill scarves, bow-ties, and pocket squares inspired by marine science. It also provides bespoke textile design and consultancy services for purpose-driven organisations, including custom tartan projects such as the SAMS Ocean Explorer Tartan. The company originated the SeaDyes seaweed-based dye innovation project, which has since become an independent marine biotech entity.
Product overview
Crùbag is an ocean-focused boutique textile design studio and materials innovation lab based in Scotland, founded in 2013. The company offers a portfolio of artful scarves, bow-ties, and pocket squares made from organic silk twill, all inspired by marine science and ocean themes. Additionally, Crùbag provides bespoke textile design and consultancy services for purpose-driven organisations, including tartan design projects. The company also pioneered SeaDyes, a seaweed-based dye innovation that started as a joint project and became an independent marine biotech startup in 2023, later spinning into the James Hutton Institute.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SeaDyes: SeaDyes® is a seaweed-based dye innovation for fashion and textiles, originally a project of the Scottish Association for Marine Science and Crùbag, which became an independent marine biotech startup in July 2023 and a spin-in of the James Hutton Institute in January 2025.
Products and services
- Artful Scarves
Companies that use Crùbag
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Crùbag technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Crùbag partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- James Hutton InstitutecoreSeaDyes, the seaweed-based dye innovation project, became a spin-in of the James Hutton Institute in January 2025. Crùbag is co-located at this research institute in Scotland, facilitating materials innovation collaboration.
- SeaDyescoreSeaDyes started as a joint project between the Scottish Association for Marine Science and Crùbag. It became an independent marine biotech startup in July 2023, and joined the James Hutton Institute as a spin-in in January 2025.
- Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)coreSAMS co-developed the SeaDyes seaweed-based dyeing technology with Crùbag. Crùbag created the SAMS Ocean Explorer Tartan in collaboration with SAMS. SAMS is the founding research partner for materials innovation.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Crùbag competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Keel Labs: North American materials company developing seaweed-based yarns for fashion. Direct parallel to Crùbag's seaweed-based dye/materials innovation with a similar marine-biology value proposition.
- Colorifix: UK-based biotech company developing biological (microorganism-driven) dyes for textiles. Closest direct comparable to SeaDyes' seaweed-based dye concept, operating at the materials-innovation layer rather than finished garments.
- Spinnova: Finnish sustainable textile fiber company using wood and waste streams. Comparable as a science-led, sustainable fiber/dye innovation player serving fashion brands.
- Bolt Threads: US biotech company producing lab-grown proteins and sustainable fibers for fashion. Comparable as a biotech-meets-fashion materials innovator targeting similar sustainable-apparel customers.
- AlgiKnit: US startup developing kelp-based yarns for the fashion industry. Strongest direct comparable to Crùbag/SeaDyes on the seaweed-to-textile materials axis, although focused on fiber rather than dye.
Broad incumbents
- Patagonia: Iconic outdoor/responsibly-made apparel brand with deep environmental mission. Comparable as a mission-led apparel brand translating sustainability/environmental science into premium products.
- Pangaia: Global DTC sustainable fashion brand using bio-based materials and science-led storytelling. Much larger and broader in scope, but directly comparable as a science-authentic, sustainability-positioned apparel label.
- Stella McCartney: Established luxury fashion house with a strong sustainability and ethical-materials positioning. Operates at much larger scale but competes for the same sustainability-conscious, mission-driven apparel customer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Crùbag social profiles
Digital presenceCrùbag financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crùbag leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Crùbag funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crùbag 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 Crùbag
What does Crùbag do?
Crùbag is an ocean-focused boutique textile design studio based in Scotland that produces artful silk twill scarves, bow-ties, and pocket squares inspired by marine science. It also provides bespoke textile design and consultancy services for purpose-driven organisations, including custom tartan projects such as the SAMS Ocean Explorer Tartan. The company originated the SeaDyes seaweed-based dye innovation project, which has since become an independent marine biotech entity.
Is Crùbag a public or private company?
Crùbag is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Crùbag founded?
Crùbag was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Crùbag based?
Crùbag is headquartered in Oban, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Crùbag make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (B2C) is the primary driver. The others are B2B Consultancy Services.
Who are Crùbag's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Keel Labs, Colorifix, Spinnova, Bolt Threads and AlgiKnit. Broad incumbents are Patagonia, Pangaia and Stella McCartney.
Does Crùbag have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crùbag.