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Getting the very best from nature through biomimicry

The invention of Velcro back in ****—inspired by burrs clinging to a dog’s fur—was one of the earliest examples of a biomimicry-influenced textile development. Since then, product scientists have continued to draw inspiration from the natural world at a micro level.

Spider silk, for example, has long laid claim to being the world’s strongest natural fibre. Its strength is four times that of steel, its elasticity rivals that of nylon, and it can withstand temperatures exceeding ***°C. Spiders, however, have cannibalistic tendencies that make their large-scale breeding for commercial applications extremely difficult.