morpho butterfly

The wings of the morpho butterfly remain bright and shiny throughout the butterfly's entire lifespan. The vibrant color is created by light refraction rather than pigment. The tiny scales that make up the wing membrane are made of layers of protein that refract light in many different ways, so the color seen is that of reflected light.
According to Ask Nature, an advanced fiber company Tenjin Fibers Limited has begun to manufacture fibers mimicking this structure. The resultant fibers require no pigments and resist fade. The color shades and brightness are created by the thickness and frequency of structural layering.