AM Silk, from Germany, the first company in the world to provide vegan silk biopolymers for industrial use, has obtained an extra US $ 27 million in Series C financing.
- The vegan silk is created through the process of transferring the genetic code from a spider’s thread to bacteria grown in a bioreactor. This produces silk proteins (aka silk fibroin) which can be transformed into different applications including yarns and fibers for textile manufacturing, as well as gels and coatings for medical devices.
- AM Silk is using genetically engineered E. coli to express the protein in a fermentation process. The firm is incorporating four silk varieties into its initial products. The four are derived from the DNA sequence of the European garden cross spider, but they have engineered specific versions of E. coli.
- Its products are made from plant-based raw material using bacterial fermentation. Know more about bacterial fermentation.
Other businesses across the world that make vegan silk are:
- The Ethical Silk Company is an Irish company that uses the leaves of mulberry trees to create vegan silk apparel and accessories. They apply a technique known as eco-printing, in which designs are made on the cloth using natural dyes and botanicals.
- Seek Collective is a US-based company that uses organic cotton and banana fiber to collaborate with Indian craftsmen to produce vegan silk clothing. To produce their distinctive patterns, they employ natural dyes and conventional handloom processes.
- Australian company Tasi Travels sells vegan silk apparel manufactured from TENCEL, a biodegradable fabric derived from wood pulp.
- A UK-based company called Komodo makes vegan silk apparel with modal, a biobased fabric derived from beech tree pulp. Within their collections, they include hemp, bamboo, organic cotton, and recycled materials.
The worldwide silk market is expected to increase significantly in the following years, reaching approximately $11 billion by 2028, according to a Research Dive analysis.
India is a huge market and producer of silk, with a rich tradition and culture of silk weaving and wearing. India also has abundant silk resources, a growing biotechnology sector, and a high demand for sustainable products.
Bio silk is a great business opportunity for Indian corporates, as it offers a competitive edge, a large customer base, a renewable resource, and a positive impact.
Read more on this article.