Spiber compelled to seek new ownership
A pioneer in developing a commercial biotech fibre, Japanese company Spiber is now operating under a new structure, New Spiber, with a new financial backer, CEO and director, Maya Kawana. The company had accrued debt, in the order of 40 billion yen, that was due to be repaid at the end of 2025, as reported by Asia Nikkei.
Ms Kawana is the daughter of SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. Spiber founders Kazuhide Sekiyama and Junichi Sugahara are not part of the new management team but will stay on to focus on “immediate resolution of technical challenges” and “accelerating product development and commercialisation”.
“The structural protein technology that Spiber has developed to date is an exceptionally rare innovation capable of addressing global-scale challenges. I deeply believe in its potential, and I am committed to accelerating its implementation,” commented Ms Kawana.
Japanese sportswear group Goldwin has been an early supporter of Spiber and the Brewed Protein fibre has been in trials with upscale mills these past few years. Its high cost makes it a premium material leading it to be mostly offered in blends with other high-end fibres such as wool and cashmere.
Photo shows a North Face jacket made by Goldwin in 2023.
