Aurélie Fontan
Aurélie is a biodesigner and sustainability innovator committed to transforming fashion through regenerative design. As the founder of Regen Ink, she develops natural, non-toxic inks and pigments from plants grown on polluted land, offering a scalable alternative to synthetic dyes while restoring ecosystems and reducing environmental impact. Her expertise in biomaterials, circular fashion, and zero-waste production has earned recognition from leading global institutions, and her work demonstrates how creativity and science can drive systemic change toward a more sustainable industry.
Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of water globally, and the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global industrial water pollution (Fashion Revolution).
Aurélie addresses this through her project Regen Ink, developing regenerative dyeing solutions that replace toxic chemicals with natural, biodegradable pigments while restoring polluted land through plant cultivation. These plants clean contaminated soils and produce vibrant, eco-friendly inks for textiles and creative industries. Her approach uses land unsuitable for food production, creating a fully circular alternative to conventional dyes that reduces water pollution, eliminates harmful chemicals, and promotes ecological restoration—proving sustainability and creativity can coexist.
With support from the Swarovski Foundation's Creatives for Our Future programme, Aurélie is refining Regen Ink’s processes, expanding partnerships, and accelerating systemic change in the fashion and textiles industries. The grant provides funding, mentorship, and a global platform to bridge the gap between research and real-world application.
Aurélie’s vision is to inspire a collective shift toward regenerative design, empowering brands and creatives to adopt solutions that actively restore natural systems. Through collaboration and innovation, she is building a future where fashion contributes to environmental regeneration rather than depletion.
“Receiving the Creatives for Our Future Grant is a significant milestone for me and the Regen Ink project. It validates the urgency of sustainable material innovation and the potential of regenerative dye solutions in reshaping the fashion and textiles industries.”
Aurélie Fontan
