Natural Environment Blog

Soy silk is an eco-friendly fiber made from tofu manufacturing waste. The fiber is made entirely of soy protein (which is a by-product from the manufacture of tofu).

Soy silk is currently made in China is available under the SOYSILK^® brand. The SOYSILK^® brand is a registered trademark of the South West Trading Company (SWTC), and can be purchased from The Yarn Grove and Crown Mountain Farms. Soy silk has been described as “soft” and “lustrous” and can be used to make a range of fabrics.

Soy silk yarns are available in three varieties, Oasis, Phoenix, and Infinity.

And if you’re thinking that the idea of wearing clothes made from soy beans is a new and radical idea, think again. Henry Ford wore a soybean suit back in the 1940s!

Henry Ford, loved soybeans.

Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, loved soybeans so much, that he even wore a “soybean suit”. This suit was made of a special silk, which was derived from soy fibers, and Ford would wear it on special occasions, promoting the usage of soy beans. It’s thought to be the world’s first suit made from soybeans.

Did I mention Ford loved soy beans? The upholstery in the Ford motor vehicles were actually made from soy fibers. Ford even received a patent for building plastic car bodies based on soy bean oil!

Since the days of Henry Ford, soy bean fibers haven’t really taken off in the clothing/fabric market. But nowadays, with the environment being such a major concern around the world, soy bean fibers may just make a comeback.