Yorkshire's DNA suit setto foil fabricforgers

HUDDERSFIELD cloth is being woven with a unique DNA 'fingerprint' so buyers can tell it is genuine.

A suit jacket is believed to be the first garment to be treated with plant DNA. Customers will be able to test it using swabbing methods similar to those used by criminal forensics experts.

The fabric is manufactured at John Cavendish in Huddersfield and is popular in the Far East, where the DNA identification will ensure garments can be easily distinguished from cheap imitations.

James Michelsberg, 36, who runs Michelsberg Tailoring, in Leeds, and made the first 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’.

“Counterfeiting is the biggest problem facing the textiles industry. There are people in India and China counterfeiting cloth, saying it’s woven in Yorkshire. We’re wanting to protect Yorkshire textiles and prevent other companies from ripping them off.”

New York-based Applied DNA Sciences (APDN) has developed the idea of using plant DNA to prevent counterfeiting and it is already using the technique to protect cash boxes, drugs and expensive wines.

Mr Michelsberg had the idea for the suit after meeting staff from the Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield, which has been working with APDN on the project.

Prospective buyers will be able to send off for a swab testing kit to prove the fabric’s authenticity. The suit will cost around 600.

Andrew Knight sales and design director for John Cavendish said: “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.”