DNA technology to foil fabric counterfeiters

By mixing high-quality natural fibers with lower quality synthetics, textile fabricators can make it tough to be certain that wool, cashmere and silk are the real deal. Applied DNA Sciences Inc., Stony Brook, N.Y., offers a proprietary SigNature™ DNA that can be used to authenticate textiles at all points of the supply chain. In collaboration with Yorkshire Textiles and Fabrics and the Textile Centre of Excellence consortium of companies, Applied DNA will test SigNature in threads, labels and fabrics manufactured by the British firm. A second phase of testing would use Applied DNA BioMaterial™ Genotyping for raw fibers being used in Yorkshire fabrics. The three-year project will provide a strategic weapon against billions of dollars of textile seizures and losses in the U.K., the U.S. and worldwide. To find out more, visit www.adnas.com.