Spiber Brewed Protein Fiber

Spiber Inc. is a Japanese bioventure headquartered in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, with a mass production plant run by Spiber (Thailand) Ltd. in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, Rayong. It aims to reduce the environmental footprint of animal and petroleum-based fibres such as cashmere, wool and polyester by creating a new category of man-made protein fibre.

Brewed Protein is made by precision fermentation: engineered microbes are fed mainly sugarcane-based sugar from Bonsucro-certified suppliers, nitrogen and minerals, and the protein polymer is extracted, purified and processed into filament, staple fibre, spun yarn, tops, film, sheet or a polyester finishing agent. The microbes are removed before processing. Buyers are apparel and textile brands, spinners and mills, and automotive interior makers, including THE NORTH FACE, Goldwin, Stella McCartney, ISSEY MIYAKE and JNBY Group.

• Precision fermentation: engineered microbes convert plant-derived sugar into structural protein polymer.
• Multiple fibre forms: filament, staple fibre of 38 to 102 mm, spun yarn and tops for spinning and knitting.
• Non-fibre formats: film, sheet, leather-like materials and a finishing agent for polyester.
• Tunable specs: fibre diameters of 12 to 14 and 14 to 16 micrometres with variable protein content.
• Thailand production: Brewed Protein powder is mass-produced at the Rayong plant in Thailand.
• SPIBER BIOFOUNDRY: the biomanufacturing platform behind Brewed Protein opened to partners in October 2026.

Vietnamese spinners and knitwear factories can blend Brewed Protein staple fibre into premium yarns for Japanese and European brands. Garment exporters producing for THE NORTH FACE, Goldwin or similar brands can qualify Brewed Protein fabrics for capsule collections. Automotive interior suppliers in Vietnam can test Brewed Protein textiles for seat covers and trims.

Spiber's life cycle assessment outlook reports, versus Mongolian cashmere and Australian merino, 79% lower greenhouse gas emissions, 82% lower eutrophication and 99% lower land and water use. The fibre offers a silk-like lustre, cashmere-like hand feel and wool-like softness without animal sourcing. Undyed yarn biodegrades in natural seawater within six months under ISO 23977-1 testing, and diameter and protein content can be tuned per application.

Brands are searching for animal-free and fossil-free alternatives to cashmere, wool and silk as scrutiny of animal welfare, land use and microplastics grows. Biomanufactured fibres are moving from couture into mass-market and automotive products. With production already in Thailand, Southeast Asian spinners, knitters and garment makers are close to a new fibre supply chain for export orders.

Headquartered in Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan; Spiber (Thailand) Ltd. was established on 21 November 2018 in Rayong. Began operating under a new management structure on 1 April 2026. Partners include THE NORTH FACE, Goldwin, Stella McCartney, A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE, JNBY Group, Botto Giuseppe and the Kering Material Innovation Lab; first use in a production vehicle, the Land Cruiser Prado NEWSCAPE, was announced in October 2025.