Scientists Develop a Leather Alternative Made from Mushroom Fibers That Looks and Feels Just Like Real Leather.
Created by the biomaterials company MycoWorks in San Francisco, this new type of synthetic leather is made from mycelium, the tubular fibers found in mushrooms. This innovative material is more environmentally friendly and less harmful to animals than traditional leather.
Synthetic leather can help reduce the number of animals killed for their hides. (Photo: MycoWorks)
MycoWorks collaborates with various artisans to create synthetic leather that closely resembles real leather. The material made from mycelium is also biodegradable, contributing to mitigating the negative environmental impacts of fast fashion, according to Dr. Matt Scullin, CEO of MycoWorks.
Mycelium is the regenerative root structure of mushrooms. This leather alternative can be produced from mushrooms by utilizing low-cost agricultural and forestry byproducts such as sawdust. This serves as an excellent food source for mycelium to thrive. These long mushroom fibers can grow in layers and be harvested in just two weeks.
The patented synthetic leather technology developed by MycoWorks is called Fine Mycelium. This synthetic leather has the same appearance and feel as real leather but exceeds it in durability. The technology developed by MycoWorks transforms mycelium to achieve unprecedented strength. The final product, named Reishi, will be processed and dyed by the partner company Curtidos Badia in Spain.
Typically, leather is sourced from animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses, buffalo, pigs, seals, whales, and crocodiles. Many animal rights activists oppose the use of real leather due to ethical concerns as well as worries about deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions associated with livestock farming.
