GOT MILCH?
ANKE DOMASKE HAS DEVELOPED A TEXTILE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES MILK FIBERS. Written by LEE HERSHEY Anke Domaske, owner of the fashion line Mademoiseille Chi Chi (MCC) says, “Back when I was 19, it was so much fun starting MCC [founded in 2003]. Being creative and to work as a businesswoman was just so incredibly exciting.” Now, as Anke launches QMilch in 2011, the same energy that drove her with MCC returns. QMilch is the branding for her textile company, as well as the name of a material made from milk fibers, which Anke has been developing. Both MCC and QMilch are based in Hanover, Germany. Anke was only 19 at the time that she started MCC: “You never know if being a successful fashion designer will work out, and I was just starting college. I always thought I had to decide one day which direction to choose, but I managed to split between fashion and biology.” Anke graduated with her master’s degree in microbiology in 2009, and then decided to continue with fashion (she studied pattern-making and sewing from her grandmother, who was a milliner). It was around this time, that Anke started her research on the milk fiber. Her fashion and biology talents have merged to develop this innovation. The QMilch textile is made from high concentrations of the milk protein casein. No pesticides or chemicals are involved in its creation, making it the first man-made fiber produced through a completely natural process. As Anke points out, “There are no natural products anymore,” - even wools and silks are produced with chemical substances to make them more durable. In addition to its ecological appeal (even the production process is energy and resource efficient, taking only an hour and a maximum of two liters of water),
QMilch has many health benefits. The amino acids in the milk have anti-bacterial and anti-ageing properties, and are known to help regulate both blood circulation and body temperature. Casein has been known for hundreds of years as a solution to heal wounds. QMilch production does not reduce the quality of the casein, and its ingredients remain intact with the fibers. “[With QMilch,] we are so anxious learning about so many things and experiencing what you can do with the fibers, hearing from clients about where they see the use of [the product]. This is so much fun, I can’t even tell you…and
“YOU NEVER KNOW IF BEING A SUCCESSFUL FASHION DESIGNER WILL WORK OUT, AND I WAS JUST STARTING COLLEGE. I ALWAYS THOUGHT I HAD TO DECIDE ONE DAY WHICH DIRECTION TO CHOOSE, BUT I MANAGED TO SPLIT BETWEEN FASHION AND BIOLOGY.” we don’t mind working late!” With Anke’s background in developing MCC, she already has the professional experience to utilize with QMilch. “With MCC, we have been through a lot of ups and downs. All that I have accomplished,” Anke describes, “I have done by myself, as I had no contacts. To sell in Tokyo, I went to the biggest department store’s information desk and asked
JANNES FRUBEL
28
NOVEMBER 2011
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