Japanese skiwear brand Goldwin has partnered with biomaterial innovator Spiber to create what they are hailing as the world’s first-ever garment made out of brewed protein.
Simply named “The Sweater,” it features fabric that is completely free of petrochemicals and animal products.
The inspiration to create this sustainable garment was the result of both companies wishing to find a way to replace petrochemical-based materials that are so common in the fashion industry, with bio-based materials.
How did the garment come to be, you may be wondering? At the core of the unconventional production process was Brewed Protein. Brewed Protein is a biopolymer that was produced out of plant-derived biomass through an advanced fermentation process.
Spiber’s intensive research led them to discover that biopolymer materials, such as Brewed Protein, were capable of taking on a variety of forms. These forms range from silky and delicate filament fibre and spun yarns with cashmere-like softness to durable wool, with its moisture-wicking and thermal properties.
Ethically and environmentally speaking, Brewed Protein has a lot to offer when it comes to animal alternatives. For example, Spiber’s in-house technology was able to use Brewed Protein to not only create The Sweater, but also to produce animal-free fur and leather alternatives. The protein can even be processed into resins to mimic a tortoiseshell or animal horn. Ultimately, Spiber views Brewed Protein as key to the future, as owing to its versatility, it could be used for anything from textiles to medical applications.
Beyond this innovative new material, Goldwin and Spiber designed the rest of the sweater to be made out of fine merino wool and high-grade cashmere. The sweater, which Goldwin says is an everyday staple but could also be worn when skiing or hiking, is made up of 30% Brewed Protein and 70% wool.
The overall aim of The Sweater is to reduce the use of both animal products and plastic in the fashion industry. Goldwin and Spiber view The Sweater as just the beginning, or a starting point in their larger quest to find solutions to global environmental problems, especially those caused by the fashion industry.
The Sweater is currently available in black only, which was specifically chosen as black represents the mixing of all colours and is believed to be the colour of beginnings.
Only a limited quantity of Goldwin and Spiber’s The Sweater, which retails for $800 USD, has been produced, meaning getting your hands on this item isn’t as simple as clicking “add to cart.” Instead, the brands created a lottery system whereby interested consumers can apply to be selected to purchase one of the limited edition garments.
All images in this article are courtesy of Goldwin.
