TALKING TEXTILES

modeling milk

 

 

Anke Domaske — a German born, biochemist and fashion designer— is the inventor of an award-winning new textile made entirely from milk. Called “Qmilch,” it drapes and folds like silk, but can be washed and dried like cotton. The fabric is also eco-friendly and a wonderful solution for people with skin allergies.

Qmilch – a combination of quality and the German word for milk – won the innovation award of Germany’s Textile Research Association, which recognized it as a new, sustainable fiber that could revolutionize the clothing industry.

After two years of trial and error in a research lab, Domaske and her team of six finally created a process of reducing milk to a protein powder that is then boiled and pressed into strands that can be woven into a fabric.

According to Domaske, the strands can be spun rougher for a heavier texture, or shiny smooth, to create a soft jersey feel. She uses only organic milk that cannot be consumed because it has failed Germany’s strict quality standards.

 

By reducing waste and our reliance on byproducts from oil, and other indispensable resources such as water, Domaske’s work promises greener fashion and a greener future.

Text by Beth Lauck.

 

www.qmilk.eu

 

 

 

photos by jannes frubel

photos by jannes frubel