Kraig Biocraft Laboratories has shipped its first commercial order of recombinant spider silk yarn to a global performance sports brand, marking a step towards the use of the company’s material in performance textiles. The custom-engineered yarn was produced according to the customer’s specifications and will be developed into a new performance textile as part of a confidential pilot programme targeting athletic apparel.

Kraig Labs produces recombinant spider silk using genetically engineered silkworms that incorporate key spider silk proteins. The company says the resulting material combines properties including strength, flexibility, toughness and low weight, making it suitable for demanding performance applications.

The initial shipment was intentionally kept small because the programme is focused on a precision application rather than bulk production. The shipment follows Kraig Labs’ efforts to move its spider silk technology from development and scaled production into customer-led textile applications.

The company sees performance sportswear as a potential testing ground for the material, where properties such as strength-to-weight ratio and durability can be evaluated in finished products. Kraig Labs said successful development of the yarn by the sports brand could support further applications of recombinant spider silk in the performance apparel sector.