ORIGIN AND PRODUCTION OF THE MILK FIBER
In 1935, Antonio Ferretti engineered casein and gave birth to Lanital, a fiber with a molecular structure, softness and textile hand very similar to wool.
In 1937, amid economic sanctions and with a properly autarchic impulse, SNAI Viscosa industrialized the product, receiving positive feedback from the fascist regime.
In the post-war period, the company tried to perfect the yarn and relaunched it commercially under the name Merinova, but the simultaneous development of synthetic fibers supplanted casein production and Ferretti’s discovery was quickly forgotten.
The introduction of bio-engineering techniques has optimized the process of extraction of the fiber from casein and, at the dawn of the new millennium, the milk fiber has been rediscovered for its hypoallergenic properties, occupying, to date, the high end of a market dedicated exclusively to clothing for children and people suffering from dermatitis and skin allergies.
Milk fiber is obtained by skimming the protein liquid, obtained from industrial casein waste, and then subjected to the spinning process.
Milk fiber is, therefore, a regenerated protein fiber, reconfigured in fibrous form to simulate the textile hand of silk and wool.
BENEFICIAL PROPERTIES OF THE MILK FIBER
Milk fiber is pleasant to the touch, has a bright appearance, is light, has a very soft woven hand and maintains these characteristics even after many washes.
It is the only existing fabric able to moisturize, nourish and soften the skin and reactivate the microcirculation, as it contains eighteen amino acids and 40% milk protein.
Milk fiber is hypoallergenic and has a bacteriostatic charge of 99.9%, particularly against escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus. In fact, gauze and hospital bandages are often produced with it.
The fabric does not contain plastic fibers and is therefore highly breathable and able to absorb moisture from perspiration and keep the skin dry.
Like all fabrics of animal origin, milk fiber has thermoregulatory properties, i.e. it helps to retain body heat in winter and is very cool in summer.
Tests carried out by manufacturers have also shown that milk fiber is a natural screen against UV rays.
THE MILK FIBER IS AN ECO-FRIENDLY FABRIC
Milk fiber is highly ecological because only natural and renewable raw materials are used in its production, with a consequent drastic reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
During production, this fiber also guarantees considerable water savings: in fact, less than one liter of water will be needed to make a turban made of milk fiber, whereas about 900 liters of water will be required to produce a turban made of organic cotton.
Milk fiber proves to be eco-friendly not only during the production phase, but also during the entire life cycle, being entirely compostable and biodegradable.