Will Artificial Proteins Revolutionize the Apparel Industry?
The Sweater, like the Moon Parka released by The North Face in 2019, was developed in collaboration with the bio-venture company Spybar, right? How do you view the company Spyber, Mr. Arai?
Arai: In 2014, when our president, Takao Watanabe, visited our headquarters in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture to meet with Mr. Kazuhide Sekiyama, President of Spyber, I was there with him. What Mr. Sekiyama told me at that time was beyond our imagination, and I was shocked by his vision of creating innovative materials that would drastically change the existing industrial structure, solve various issues such as resources and the environment, and ultimately lead to world peace. It is very interesting and exciting to be able to work together with Spyber.
It is said that if artificial protein materials become widespread in the future, they could revolutionize many industries, including apparel. What are your thoughts on this point?
Arai: Of course, we see great potential in artificial protein materials, and that is why we are working with Spyber on product development. However, this does not mean that we believe that the time will soon come when all petroleum resources will be replaced by them.
In the past, I myself was involved in the functional development of "The North Face" and pursued high specifications in the outdoor field. However, that alone is not enough nowadays. We live in an era that requires products to be both functional and ethical and sustainable at the same time. It is not easy to strike a balance between technical and eco-functional aspects. In the future, it will be important to develop products that successfully blend new and existing materials, as in the case of "The Sweater" this time.
