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World's first 'DNA suit' made in Yorkshire
Smash hit detective shows like CSI have inspired a company to produce the world's first "DNA suit" to protect against counterfeiters.
A men's jacket made by an exclusive tailor is believed to be the first garment to be treated with plant DNA which will creates a unique "fingerprint" to prove its authenticity.
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Before buying the 600-pound item, well-dressed men will be able to test it using swabbing methods similar to those employed by criminal forensics experts.
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It is hoped that the suit, produced from cloth manufactured at John Cavendish in Huddersfield, and which is particularly popular in the Far
East, will then be distinguishable from cheap rip-offs.
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Bespoke tailor James Michelsberg, 36, who runs Michelsberg Tailoring in Leeds, and made the suit, said: "Botanical DNA works in the same way as
us having our own fingerprint. Plants have a unique code, a genetic fingerprint that can be applied to cloth to stand for woven in Yorkshire.
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"Counterfeiting is the biggest problem facing the textiles industry. There are people in India and China counterfeiting cloth, saying its woven in Yorkshire. We're wanting to protect Yorkshire textiles and prevent other companies from ripping them off.
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"People in the Far East are getting what they think is Huddersfield cloth and paying a premium for it because of the heritage behind it.
"My understanding is that in Japan the cloth is more important than the
tailoring to the point. They even want to know which farm the sheep came from. We want to make sure theyre getting the genuine article. It's tremendously exciting."
New York-based company Applied DNA Sciences (APDN) has developed the idea of using plant DNA to prevent counterfeiting and it is already used to protect cash boxes, drugs and expensive wines.
James had the idea for the suit after meeting Bill MacBeth, the managing director of the Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield about six months ago.
The centre has been working with APDN on the project to develop anti-counterfeiting methods.
The fibres for the cloth used to make the suit were immersed in the DNA as they were put on the loom before the fabric was finished.
Prospective buyers will be able to send off for a swab testing kit to prove the fabric's authenticity.
James and Andrew Knight, the sales and design director for John Cavendish, are now set to showcase the suit at one of Japan's major department stores later this year. If it is popular the tailor plans to make another 20.
Andrew added: "In the marketplace I'm faced with lots of fake goods. You get some fabric marked up as being Cavendish and it's not and goods marked as being from Huddersfield, which has a big appeal, that aren't.
"With DNA you get authenticity, genuine goods and traceability - you can trace it back to the raw material, who wove it, who finished it and who sold the fabric.
"It's absolutely fantastic. As a local company it's something the industry has been crying out for."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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