In Hannover, Germany, a revolution is happening. Anke Domaske, a microbiologist and fashion designer, has developed a new sustainable fabric, made from milk fibres. The 28 year old’s fabric, called Qmilch, has the softness and drape of silk, but can be washed and dried like cotton and is perfect for people with allergies.

Although some questions have been raised about the sustainability of a fabric made from milk, Anke wants to go mainstream with the fabric, with mass production planned for next year. Anke only uses organic milk that cannot be consumed because it has failed Germany’s strict quality standards, although at €20 ($28) per kilogram (2 pounds), her fabric costs more to produce than even organic cotton, which goes for about 40 percent less. But she hopes to combat this problem by using local production to keep down transport costs and reduce the overall price.  [Read more...]