Eco Fashion Trend of the Week: Milk Material

April 3, 2012 in Green News, World, Green Stories, Green Tech, Green Products with 7 Comments

U.S. Green Technology | Where Main Street Meets Green Street

A model wears Qmilch, which drapes like silk but washes like cotton. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Anke Domaske was a German microbiology student. As she watched her stepfather suffer from skin conditions during his cancer treatment, she wished there was something she could do to help. Anke understood that many of the skin’s negative reactions are caused by what it’s exposed to, and that meant conventional fabrics. So she used green technology to create a fabric that would not only be good for her stepfather’s skin, but good for the environment.

The primary ingredient is milk. Or rather, casein, the main protein in milk. That’s why it’s dubbed Qmilch (combining the word “milk” in German with “quality”).

In an interview with Reuters, Domaske said the milk fabric technology resulted in “an all-natural fiber consisting of a very high concentration of casein, with a few other natural ingredients . . . It feels like silk and it doesn’t smell–you can wash it just like anything else.”

As if a silky, luxurious feeling and “tumble dry low” instructions weren’t enough to recommend the milk material, Qmilch is also good for your skin. Domaske pointed out that the natural amino acids in casein are antibacterial and reduce signs of aging. She also says the green technology supports healthy blood circulation and regulates the body’s temperature.

So those are the benefits for your body. What about for the environment? About half a gallon of water is used to produce 2 pounds of milk fabric. Compare that to cotton, which consumes over 2,500 gallons for every 2 pounds of material.

It’s no wonder Domaske has been honored by Germany’s Textile Research Association with an innovation award. She’s currently using the milk fabric in her own fashion line, Mademoiselle Chi Chi.

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About Leslie Hedrick: Leslie Hedrick has been a freelance writer and journalist since 2009. Her work, centering around green technology and sustainable living, has been published across the internet and in magazines throughout North America. She studied writing at Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in northern Kentucky. Connect with Leslie on Leslie Hedrick

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