An industrial Renaissance man of sorts, Russell Keller Laros patented and produced a synthetic blood plasma, known as plavolex, during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Plavolex, short for plasma volume expander, was used heavily during the Korean War when a blood shortage made the product an invaluable asset on the front lines.
Beyond his lifesaving medical innovation, Laros served as a leading figure in the region’s booming silk and garment industry of the early 20th century. The R.K. Laros Silk Company pioneered multiple innovations for the silk garment industry, including the first female slip to fit multiple body types, and patenting the strongest seam in the women’s undergarment industry. At its peak, the company employed over 2000 workers and was the largest user of Japanese silk in the world.
