The process of making textiles can require several dozen gallons of water for each pound of clothing, especially during fabric printing the dyeing process. Amid tightening environmental regulations and a push to save money, companies are working to reduce the waste.

One such company working to cut its water use is Colorep, which is based in California. Its AirDye technology, digital textiles used for the occasional window shade or T-shirt, employs air instead of water to help the dye penetrate the fiber, a process that Colorep claims uses no water and requires less energy.

Todd Copeland, textile printing who monitors the environmental impact of materials for the outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia, said that one of the sewing factories in the United States that does contract work for the textile printer  company is currently installing AirDye. One limitation: “It does not work on cotton or wool or the other fiber types that we use to make our products,” Mr. Copeland said — though he noted it does work on polyester.

Other companies are also working on new ways to slash their water use, according to Susan fabric print Keane, a senior textile designs environmental analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is working with Gap and a handful of other companies to cut the waste and pollution textile print associated with the textile industry in China.