Artificial spider silk, new materials for the garment industry

Bolt Threads is a biotechnology company based in Emeryville, California, USA that produces different sustainable materials for the apparel industry. Among these materials is a synthetic spider silk called "microwire", but it has nothing to do with the spider itself.

Spider silk is durable and soft, and can withstand high tension without breaking, so Dan Widmaier, CEO of Bolt Threads, and his team of scientists have been working on the production of spider silk and trying to replicate the process. The textile industry has gradually become the second largest polluting industry after the petroleum industry, so there is enough room for growth in the innovation of new materials in this field. For Widmaier and his team, spider silk is the perfect source of inspiration for developing and producing sustainable materials.

Since the debut of "Microwire", Bolt Threads has received a $230 million investment. Bolt Threads does not use spiders directly. They use a DNA sample that mimics spider silk protein and converts the DNA into yeast. Yeast growth and protein production during fermentation raw silk, silk proteins which can be made into a powder, i.e., synthetic spider silk protein.

The process is not over yet, and the synthetic spider silk protein is just a polymer. These powders are sent to the fiber laboratory and dissolved in a solution of consistency like honey. After the dissolution is complete, the solution will be squeezed out of the machine's small holes and form filaments. The product is spun into a bobbin by a spinning process, and the fibers can then be woven into fabric and used for production.

In March last year, this new material was already available for textile production. Bolt Threads has launched the first 50 limited edition ties as the first product. These ties are made of "microwire" and each priced at $314. (Gong Xiaoli finishing)