Big Red, a new fibre that has been developed by the Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc. Lansing, Michigan, is a variety of spider silk claimed to be stronger than the previously developed Monster Silk™ variety of spider silk. It is, in fact, a follow-up to the same, which is on track for commercial production in the first half of 2013. This new type of fibre was designed to be a combination of spider silk proteins, silkworm silk proteins and protein from an unrelated species. What differentiates this material significantly from Monster Silk™ is the unique spider silk genetic sequence that has been used to increase the strength-to-weight ratio. Another important difference that has been incorporated in the fibre is a unique protein, which gives the new fibre its designation red colour. Big Red is stronger than Monster Silk™, but not as elastic; this fibre’s colour is spun by transgenic silkworms that have two different spider silk genetic sequences. Thompson sees its applications in technical textiles, particularly those that require added strength, but in which elasticity would not be desirable.