Spiber’s Brewed Protein fibre was chosen as a featured material by Kering’s Material Innovation Lab in the S|STYLE collection showcased at Pitti Immagine Uomo June 13-16, and at Pitti Immagine Filati from June 28-30, both in Florence.

The collection provided a showcase of ten international and diverse brands exemplifying a harmonious blend of social consciousness and environmental responsibility. Cavia, an Italian brand based in Milan, unveiled an exclusive knit top and pants set made from cashmere and Brewed Protein fibres, which are lab-grown, plant-derived, circular materials made through a proprietary microbial fermentation process, by Yamagata, Japan-based Spiber.

“When plied together a Brewed Protein and cashmere blended bulky yarn is super soft and workable, and the results and hand feel are amazing,” said Martina Boero, founder of Cavia. “My hope is to make this yarn in different thicknesses, as it’s very soft and light. It would be amazing to have it bulkier.”

“The Brewed Protein materials created by Spiber offer a strong example of what technology can do to reduce the impact of the fashion industry on the environment by replacing traditional petrochemical-based materials and production methods with innovative and biobased solutions,” said Giorgia Cantarini, curator of the S|STYLE collection. “The more we choose these types of solutions, the more we decrease their price in the market, which makes them available for adoption by smaller and emerging brands. My hope is that we will navigate the future of fashion with more responsible action. Bigger corporations should invest in innovation and technology in order to reduce all sorts of waste, from water to chemicals, natural resources and animal exploitation.”

The potential environmental impact of Brewed Protein fibre production is significantly smaller than cashmere and merino wool, largely due to the lower environmental impacts of inputs for polymer production – primarily plant crops and renewable electricity – when compared to livestock farming for cashmere and wool production.

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