GEP Spinning develops Collagen Fiber from fish scales with permanent functional properties
As textile manufacturers search for materials that combine functionality with resource efficiency, alternative fiber development is moving beyond conventional raw materials. In this interview, Benchawan Neanatsakul, Marketing and Sales, GEP Spinning Ltd. (Filagen), and Mongkon Yookong, International Sales Manager, GEP Spinning Ltd. (Filagen), explain how the company transforms collagen-rich fish scales and wood pulp into a biodegradable fiber with built-in performance properties. Unlike surface-level chemical finishes, the collagen peptides are integrated directly into the fiber structure, helping maintain UV resistance, odor control, moisture retention, and cooling performance even after repeated washing. They also discuss the fiber’s compatibility with existing spinning systems and its potential in major textile manufacturing markets such as Bangladesh.
TexSPACE Today: Can you start by explaining what Filagen fiber actually is and where it comes from?
Benchawan Neanatsakul:“Sure. We take fish scales what most people would throw away as waste and we combine them with wood pulp. The two go through a process where they dissolve together into a liquid, and from that liquid we draw out the fiber. So what starts as biological waste becomes a very fine, spinnable strand.”
TexSPACE Today: And the collagen aspect – where does that come in?
Benchawan Neanatsakul:“Fish scales are naturally rich in collagen. So when we process them, that collagen transfers into the fiber itself. But what makes our approach different is that we don’t just coat the fiber with collagen on the outside, we integrate collagen peptides into the micromodal molecule directly, at a structural level. That is why the function is permanent. You wash the garment ten times, a hundred times – the anti-UV property, the anti-odor, the moisture retention, the cool feeling, they do not wash out. It is part of the fiber, not a finish on top of it.”
TexSPACE Today: How does it compare to cotton, the fiber most mills here are working with?
Mongkon Yookong: When you put our fiber next to cotton, our fiber is softer. It is finer. And of course, cotton does not naturally offer UV protection or odor resistance. So for a brand that wants to build functional claims into a product – activewear, underwear, bedding and they can get those properties without adding chemical treatments at the fabric stage. And because the fiber is biodegradable, they can position it honestly as an eco-friendly, green product. It is safe for the environment from start to end.
TexSPACE Today: How do factory actually work with it? Does it require specialized equipment?
Mongkon Yookong: No, that is one of the things we are proud of. Our fiber, we call it Filagen – is easy to spin on existing machinery. It blends well with cotton, with modal, with linen, with polyester. Mills do not need to change their setup. They can also use Philagen purely in the yarn and then knit or weave it with another yarn. We are very flexible on that. The one requirement we have is about composition: the Philagen content in the final fabric needs to be at least 25%. Below that threshold, the functional properties become inactive. But the more you add above 25%, the stronger those functions become. More fiber, more performance, it is a linear relationship.”
TexSPACE Today: How do you assess the potential of the Bangladesh market for your innovation?
Benchawan Neanatsakul: Bangladesh is one of the biggest garment manufacturing countries in the world that is simply a fact. If we want our innovation to reach global consumers, we need to be here. This is our second time, and we came this year specifically to find the right partner on the ground. We have not worked in this market before, so we are approaching it honestly — we are learning, we are building relationships. We hope that in the near future we can establish a presence here and offer this innovation to Bangladeshi manufacturers and, through them, to brands everywhere.”
