Silk (Material)

AMSilk spider web

Image: AMSilk on Instagram
Materials

AMSilk Secures Additional €25M, Totalling €54M for Bioproduced Silk Protein Materials

AMSilk GmbH, a German provider of biofabricated silk protein materials, has announced a successful €25 million raise in its extended Series C round, bringing the total to €54 million. The additional funding was led by previous investor ATHOS (AT Newtec), with contributions from Novo Holdings, Cargill, and MIG Capital. The Munich-based biotech leverages its technology platform, based on vegan silk proteins, to create 100% fully biodegradable and microplastic-free silk materials that will contribute to building a zero-waste society. They can be used in multiple applications, from powders, hydrogels, textile fibres, aerospace applications, and coatings for the medical, automotive, and textile industries.  Expanding commercial operations “We are delighted to have closed this successful financing round which validates our technology and underpins our ongoing development as we …

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Adidas X AMSilk

Adidas X AMSilk
Materials

AMSilk, World’s First Industrial Supplier of Vegan Silk, Appoints Klaus Kjeldal to Upscale Operations

AMSilk, a leader in the production of innovative high-performance bio-based silk materials, based in Munich Germany, announces the appointment of Klaus Kjeldal as Chief Production Officer (CPO) and Managing Director (MD). Klaus was most recently Head of Operations Enzymes at BASF and has previously worked for Uniobio, Novozymes and Orkla Foods. Klaus brings his experience in global operations and an understanding of product development, purchasing, engineering, process improvements, internal logistics and contract manufacturing. Leading the bio silk industry across multiple applications AMSilk’s operations include cover silk fibres – high-performance textile solutions which are recyclable and 100% biodegradable, and Medtech – safe and biocompatible biotech materials. In May 2021 the company raised €29M in Series C funding led by Novo Growth, the growth equity arm of …

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Image: Pranesh Sridharan on LinkedIn
Textiles

Indian Fashion Designer JJ Valaya Unveils TENCEL Luxe Vegan Silk Collection

Indian fashion designer and couturier JJ Valaya has launched a new brand called JJV, with all garments made from TENCEL Luxe vegan silk. The collection was showcased for the first time at the FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai. TENCEL Luxe lyocell filament yarn is derived from renewable wood sources using a closed-loop process. The yarn is said to produce fabrics that are extremely smooth to the touch and naturally comfortable, with a very similar feel to silk. JJV is described as a “bridge to luxury” collection, marking the first time Valaya has ventured into this category. The occasionwear brand features patterns such as chevron stripes and graphic prints, without the heavy embroidering typical of Valaya’s collections. TENCEL™ TENCEL yarn is now used by …

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vegan silk robes by niLuu

© NiLuu/PETA
Textiles

niLuu Launches PETA-Approved Vegan Silk Robes in Time for Valentine’s Day

Miami-based luxury fashion brand niLuu has launched a new range of vegan silk robes in collaboration with PETA. The kimono-style robes are made from cupro, a sustainable, animal-free silk alternative produced using cotton waste. On sale now in time for Valentine’s Day, the vegan silk robes are available for both men and women, featuring a wrap at the waist and relaxed sleeves. They come in nine different colours, packaged in a box with both niLuu and PETA branding. 20% of proceeds will be donated to PETA. Cupro While many sustainable vegan silk alternatives rely on complex production methods such as fermentation and bioengineering, cupro is innovative in its simplicity. To produce the fabric, cellulose is made soluble by combining it with copper and ammonia. It …

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Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX

©Mercedes-Benz

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Mercedes-Benz Opts for AMSilk Vegan Materials in New Concept Car 

AMSilk GmbH, the biotech-based vegan silk material innovator, has announced a new partnership with German car giant Mercedes-Benz. The collaboration will see the development of novel, sustainable car door pulls, as part of the car manufacturer’s latest technology program. “Amid a fresh wave of ambitious climate pledges, we are proud to be playing a leading role in providing solutions for a zero-waste future” Called the VISION EQXX, the new concept car features organic and sustainable interior materials throughout, including the new door pulls made from AMSilk’s Biosteel fiber. The high-strength, certified-vegan, silk-like fabric is made using AMSilk’s proprietary biotechnology, with the company claiming to be the world’s first industrial supplier of vegan silk biopolymers which are 100% biodegradable, renewable, and zero waste.  The all-electric VISION …

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Goldwin X Spiber

©Goldwin Sports
Fashion, Design & Beauty

Vegan Spider Silk ‘Spiber’ Could Revolutionise the Future of the Apparel Industry

“The Sweater” – the latest product from Goldwin to feature a brewed protein which mimics spider silk called Spiber, has launched in Japan, the United States, and several European countries. Similar to spider silk, Spiber’s new fibre is made of high-performance biomaterials but is in fact a  plant biomass that is produced by a fermentation process.

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