material.1 is a precise blend of two fibers - 70% Superfine NATIVATM Merino Wool and 30% Brewed ProteinTM fiber - plant-based biotech fiber.
material.1 is a precise blend of two fibers
— 70% Superfine NATIVATM Merino Wool
and 30% Brewed ProteinTM fiber — plant-based
biotech fiber.
Merino Wool
Brewed
ProteinTM fiber
Brewed ProteinTM fiber is made from proteins produced by microorganisms using plant-derived sugars.
Brewed ProteinTM fiber is made from
proteins produced by microorganisms
using plant-derived sugars.
01. feed
Plant-based sugars are used as raw material.
Plant-based sugars are used as raw material.
02. brew
Microorganisms ferment the sugars and convert them into protein polymer: similar to how beer is brewed from grain.
Microorganisms ferment the sugars and convert them into protein polymer:
similar to how beer is brewed from grain.
03. spin
The protein polymer is dissolved and pushed through a fine nozzle to form fiber.
The protein polymer is dissolved and pushed through a fine nozzle to form fiber.
Brewed ProteinTM fiber
is produced by Spiber,
a Japanese biotechnology company.
Petroleum-free, animal-free.
Based in Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Superfine
NATIVATM
Merino Wool
Why 17.5 microns matters
material.1 is a precise blend of two fibers - 70% Superfine NATIVATM Merino Wool and 30% Brewed ProteinTM fiber - plant-based biotech fiber.
Not superwash
The wool used in material.1 is not superwash. We don't coat the fiber in chemicals or strip its natural surface. That means it needs a gentle hand wash - but it also means the wool stays the way it was grown: soft, breathable, and free of synthetic coatings.
Worsted-spun
In our material.1 yarn we use worsted-spun wool. Every fiber is combed and aligned before spinning - no air pockets, no loose ends. The fiber is relaxed, making the tension of handknitted stitches even and smooth.
Where it comes from
Our wool comes from NATIVARegenTM farms in Uruguay, where the soil is restored, animals live on open pastures, and every fiber can be traced back to the exact farm where it was grown.
NATIVATM showed us that wool is more than just fiber - it's the animals, the land, and generations of family heritage. Through NATIVATM, we stay connected to the people behind the wool: the farmers and their families, and the communities NATIVATM supports through education, training, and cultural programs.
how
material.1
feels
soft
Comparable in fineness
to cashmere, with a
smooth, scaleless surface.
light
Noticeably lighter than
merino wool in a finished
garment.
relaxed
The finished garment
feels relaxed and falls
softly.
* In 2021, Brewed ProteinTM was classified under
ISO 2076:2021 as a new generic fiber category.
circularity
material.1 is designed with the vision
of returning to where it came from.
Knit it - shape it into something of your
own.
Wear it - a piece made with your own
hands carries the process in it: the hours,
the choices, the mistakes you fixed along
the way. That is the opposite of fast
fashion, where quantity matters more
than what went into making it.
Care for it - gentle hand wash keeps it
soft, breathable, and intact.
Feed it - our long-term vision is that
worn-out biobased textiles could be
converted into fermentation nutrients
and used as raw materials for new
biobased products.
Brewed ProteinTM fiber is grown from plant
sugars today; in the future, we envision it
could be grown from biobased textiles -
closing the loop instead of ending it.
BioCircular
Materials
Alliance
We’re part of a coalition working
toward a circular materials economy.
The BioCircular Materials Alliance
(BCMA) was founded to harness the
transformative power of biology to
accelerate the global transition toward a
circular future, bringing together brands,
manufacturers, and innovators to turn
biobased waste - from textiles, agriculture,
and forestry - into valuable materials
again.
MIAVKA is a member of the BCMA.
Through this alliance, we stay connected
to shared research and standards for
circular, bio-based materials - and
contribute our own perspective through
material.1, the world's first hand-knitting
yarn made with Brewed ProteinTM fiber.
impact on
nature
Brewed ProteinTM fiber shares the
fine qualities of animal fibers, but it is
grown through fermentation rather
than farmed. That gives it a much
lighter footprint than resource-
intensive fibers like cashmere.
Brewed ProteinTM fiber compared
to cashmere:
75%
lower greenhouse gas
emissions
75%
lower eutrophication:
meaning less excess
nutrient runoff into rivers
and lakes
90%
lower water use
90%
lower land use
These figures describe Brewed ProteinTM fiber,
not material.1.
material.1 is a blend of 70% Superfine NATIVATM
Merino wool and 30% Brewed ProteinTM fiber, so
its overall footprint is different. Figures for
Brewed ProteinTM fiber are based on Spiber's
measured production data from 2024-2025,
using renewable electricity.
Spiber's testing showed that an undyed
yarn made from Brewed ProteinTM fiber
achieved 98% biodegradation in natural
seawater within six months under
ISO 23977-1 test conditions. The finished,
dyed material.1 yarn has not yet been
separately tested.
FAQ
Merino gives warmth and structure. Brewed ProteinTM adds softness and lightness.
Yes. At 17.5 µm, the wool is below the prickle threshold. Brewed ProteinTM fibers have a smooth, scaleless surface.
The microbes used in the production of Brewed ProteinTM are genetically engineered to produce the desired protein polymers. These microbes are fully removed after fermentation, and the final Brewed ProteinTM fibers contain no genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Spiber strictly follows the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety throughout its research and production processes to ensure responsible management of biological safety.
Spiber's testing showed that an undyed yarn made from Brewed ProteinTM fiber achieved 98% biodegradation in natural seawater within six months under ISO 23977-1 test conditions. The finished, dyed material.1 yarn has not yet been separately tested. Our long-term vision is to keep materials in use for as long as possible and ultimately enable them to become the starting point for new materials. We will share further test results for the finished material.1 yarn as they become available.
No. It sheds microfibers like any textile, but they are protein and wool, not plastic.
If your garment stretches more than intended, place it in a mesh laundry bag and use a spin-only cycle without water at 400 to 600 rpm. Reshape gently and dry flat.
material.1 is dyed in Italy, where it is also spun, with conventional dyes for protein fibers (not natural dyes). The dye house holds OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Product Class I, ZDHC Supplier to Zero Level 2 and ZDHC Performance InCheck MRSL Level 3; the process complies with REACH and is PFAS-free. Shades can vary between skeins, see the question below.
Dyeing material.1 is a demanding process with several dyeing stages, because Brewed ProteinTM absorbs dye very differently from conventional fibers. Even so, the color can still turn out uneven, so the shade can differ from skein to skein, in some cases visibly. This is a known characteristic of this fiber blend.
We recommend using the yarn for small garments like beanies or scarves, which are close to your skin. If you want to knit a sweater, you can alternate 2 skeins every 2 rows or knit stripes.
Brewed ProteinTM is expected to use less than 0.001% of global cereal crop production at planned near-term production levels. Over time, Spiber aims to transition to agricultural byproducts and waste streams, such as bagasse.