Mushrooms are Moving the World of Fashion Towards a More Maintainable Future
The root of fungi, known as mycelium, has materialized in the fashion world, becoming a new innovative textile that luxury brands such as Stella McCartney, Hermès, Iris Van Herpen and Balenciaga have begun experimenting with as an alternative to leather. Undoubtedly, there has been a greater demand for sustainable forms of fabric in recent years, further boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many big companies like LVMH and Kering have begun testing mycelium for product durability, and consumer distribution. However, it is currently a material that is very high-priced and in restricted amounts as it is still in its early phases of trial use.
Mycelium has the right comparable qualities to emulate animal leather but in an environmentally friendly approach, and thus acts as a dependable and customizable option for brands that want to implement sustainable strategies into their products, without compromising their luxury, high quality brand aesthetic, and whilst concurrently responding to consumer demands. In March 2021, Hermès announced its plans to collaborate with biotech start-up company, MycoWorks, to design an organic version of the brand’s ‘Victoria’ travel bag made from mycelium. Later in October, Stella McCartney revealed the first handmade bag designed with vegan mushroom leather. “If we can get this right and get a viable alternative to leather, then it can really have a huge impact on the planet”, voiced the designer on the urgency to act in protection of the planet.
Photo: Coppi Barbieri/Harper’s BAZAAR
“Innovation takes time”, says the Business of Fashion, but the main importance is that we are finally seeing a start to the use of alternative fabrics like mycelium in luxury fashion products. We have yet to see whether mycelium will make it to mainstream, but it is certainly a question that is up for debate. Will the future of fashion be fungi?
