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This Japanese Startup’s Animal-Free ‘Brewed Protein’ Biomaterials Replaces Cashmere and Wool
Conscious consumerism is on the rise, with sustainable cruelty-free fabrics becoming trendier day by day. But while brands have plenty of leather alternatives to choose from, there remains an innovation gap when it comes to replacements for other animal-based textiles, from wool to cashmere. One Japanese company, Spiber, has created a platform to do just that.
Spiber uses synthetic biology and material science to make its Brewed Protein textiles. Instead of drawing on plant-based components like apples or grapes to make alt-leather, the Japanese biotech uses microbial fermentation to “brew” new polymers to make substitutes for all types of animal fabrics.
