A new fibre made from soya beans handles and performs “just like
cashmere” according to its developer, the Huakangtianyuan Company.

The branded Winshow fibre is also described as being stronger than silk
or wool and with moisture absorption and transference properties to
rival those of cotton. Fabrics made from the fibre are reputed to be
non-creasing and generally easy care as well as capable of receiving either
acid or active dyestuffs.

”Soya is a crop widely grown throughout China and therefore unlikely to
ever be in short supply,” explains Huakangtianyuan’s chief chemist Li
Guanqi. He adds that no pollutants are involved in the fibre’s
manufacture which makes it “eminently eco friendly.”

“And a further ‘green’ plus is that even after the protein from which
the fibre is spun has been extracted, the residue has continuing value
as live stock fodder,” says Li Guanqi.

All this suggests a fibre which will be intrinsically low cost. That
may indeed be the case long term. In the short term, however, recouping
development costs in excess of 70 million yen spent over 10 years is
likely to place the new fibre in the luxury category.