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Sustainability

Understanding the Power of Mycelium and the Mushroom Movement

An oft-overlooked natural asset, mushrooms are not just infiltrating the fashion industry, but also have the potential to unlock new ways of thinking and healing.
Mycelium panel at VOICES 2021.

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One of the planet’s oldest lifeforms was the centrepiece of some of last year’s biggest stories in material innovation in fashion. In March 2021, BoF broke the news that Hèrmes was set to collaborate with California-based biotech startup MycoWorks to rework its ‘Victoria’ travel bag in a fungi-based material that imitates the properties of leather. In October, Stella McCartney unveiled the first handbag made with vegan mushroom leather.

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About the author
Sarah Kent
Sarah Kent

Sarah Kent is Chief Sustainability Correspondent at The Business of Fashion. She is based in London and drives BoF's coverage of critical environmental and labour issues.

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