Clothing made out of milk?!

Fashion
Designer Anke Domaske poses with milk, milk fiber, and milk yarn. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Fabian Bimmer
Designer Anke Domaske poses with milk, milk fiber, and milk yarn. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Fabian Bimmer

Milk is good for your bones, but could it be good for your wardrobe? German microbiology student turned designer Anke Domaske thinks so and she's actually using milk to create a new fabric called QMilch. According to Reuters, 28-year-old Domaske uses the milk protein casein for her Mademoiselle Chi Chi clothing line. Per the article, "The casein is extracted from dried milk powder and then heated up in a type of meat-mincing machine with other natural ingredients. The fiber comes out in strands and is then spun into yarn on a spinning machine."


These dresses are made out of milk! Photo courtesy of Reuters/Fabian Bimmer
These dresses are made out of milk! Photo courtesy of Reuters/Fabian Bimmer

QMilch claims to be the first man-made fiber produced entirely without chemicals, but that doesn't come cheap. The designer estimates the quantity of milk needed to create one dress costs around $200. We know the concept of milk clothing seems bizarre, but the garments (pictured at right) look totally normal. And the process sounds pretty incredible, not to mention environmentally friendly. Domaske told Reuters it has no smell and feels just like silk, but you can wash it in a machine with no worries. Another impressive fact: Domaske said "amino acids in the protein are antibacterial, anti-aging and can help regulate both blood circulation and body temperature." Seriously?! If this is true, we're sold. Celebs like Mischa Barton and Ashlee Simpson are already fans of the brand, so we may see them wearing milk clothing soon.

If the price was right, would you wear clothing made out of milk?

Related links:
Food as fashion
Edible dresses
Introducing the edible wedding dress cake!