Spiber works on bio-membranes and ‘leather alternatives’
Fifty-three textiles makers from Japan travelled to Italian textiles fair Milano Unica, supported by their government and the Japan Textile Association in the tenth year of the collaboration.
With an “ultra-weak yen environment” at home, companies are looking to increase exports, organisers told Sportstextiles.
Performance textiles makers Toray and Sunwell were part of the delegation, as was protein fibre developer Spiber.
Alongside fibre blends with wool and cotton, used by brands such as Goldwin, Spiber is now researching and testing a membrane, which could be added to a down jacket, for example, making it ‘down-proof’ and windproof. The benefits of using this would be the ability to remove it at end-of-life, which would ease recycling, as well as the lower emissions benefits of using a natural material, said the company.
At Milano Unica, Spiber also presented a material that could be used as an alternative to leather. This, and the membrane, are at lab testing stage but are showing good results.
The company has also partnered ADM to set up a US-based facility in coming years.
