Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Ships First Commercial Spider Silk Yarn
News related to:Kraig Biocraft Laboratories · 2 min read
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, a company based in Houston, Texas, has achieved a significant milestone by shipping its first commercial shipment of recombinant spider silk yarn. This shipment, valued at a multi-kilogram order, is destined for a globally recognized performance sports brand, marking the company’s first remunerated commercial yarn shipment.
According to Kim Thompson, the Founder and CEO of Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, this delivery is a substantial step forward for the company.
The yarn was produced to fulfill a purchase commitment under a confidential pilot program and was processed to the customer's specifications. The company aims to develop this material into a first-of-its-kind performance textile targeting one of the most demanding segments of athletic apparel. This project is part of a broader initiative to bring spider silk into practical production, a topic that was featured in National Geographic's March 2026 cover story.
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories has been making significant strides in its production capabilities. On August 24, 2026, the company reported production that was more than 30% above its previous record, achieved during the rainy season. The company now supports continuous rolling production through multiple rearing operations. In a September 14 update, Kraig cited approximately 3.2 metric tons of recombinant spider silk cocoons produced in a single cycle earlier in the year.
The company's approach centers on using biology at the core of manufacturing. Its genetically engineered silkworms produce recombinant silk incorporating spider silk proteins, which are then spun into fibers and processed into yarns for textile applications. This specific shipment was tailored to the customer's needs, reflecting the company's precision in material engineering.
Looking ahead, Kraig Biocraft Laboratories is focusing on expanding its capacity. The next initiative targets the silkworms' food supply, with the company working to secure additional land for in-house mulberry production. Management targeted bringing this capacity online within two to three months, with the expansion expected to support another significant increase in silk output.
Additionally, Kraig is advancing its Project Atlas, which aims to establish foundational gene libraries and develop stable breeding lines. The company reported the completion of its living Atlas Gene Library on September 24, 2026, with every planned Atlas transgene established in living commercial silkworm hosts. The next phase focuses on evaluating more than 200 potential genetic combinations aimed at enhancing fiber strength, toughness, and flexibility.
The shipment to the performance sports brand marks a historic turning point for Kraig Biocraft Laboratories. The company sees elite sport as a proving ground for the combination of strength, flexibility, toughness, and lightweight properties it seeks to bring to demanding applications.
The commercial milestone follows wider attention to Kraig's technology. The company's work featured in National Geographic's March 2026 cover story, which explored genetically engineered silkworms and the challenge of bringing spider silk into practical production. The industry backdrop is enormous, with Textile Exchange's Materials Market Report 2026 estimating that global fiber production reached a record 139 million metric tons in 2025, with polyester accounting for 59% of output. Kraig's entry point is a focused performance application within that much larger industry.
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