Stella McCartney has created the world's first-ever clothing line using vegan mushroom leather.
Vegetarian fashion brand Stella McCartney is the first in the world to create and launch garments made from Mylo Mycelium – a sustainable, animal-free leather alternative.
Mylo, created by Bolt Threads, is essentially ‘mushroom leather’ as it is made using mycelium – an underground root system of fungi.
Mycelium is infinitely renewable, which makes it completely sustainable and the perfect alternative to animal leather which negatively contributes to the climate crisis.
While Adidas created a line of trainers using mycelium in January, Stella’s new items will be the first time the material has been used for clothing.
Combining the science of mycelium with high fashion, Stella McCartney has created two garments made from Mylo. These comprise of a black bustier top and utilitarian trousers, influenced by Stella’s signature dichotomy of feminine and masculine attitudes.
In order to produce Mylo in a lab, scientists have recreated the forest floor (where the mycelium grows best) using mulch, air and water. Unlike animal leather production, this process takes days rather than the years it takes to raise cattle.
This process has spawned an entirely new category of material science, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.
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‘A kinder fashion industry’
In a statement sent to Vegan Food and Living, Stella McCartney explained: “I believe the Stella community should never have to compromise luxury desirability for sustainability, and Mylo™️allows us to make that a reality.
“These rare, exclusive pieces embody our shared commitment with Bolt Threads to innovate a kinder fashion industry –one that sees the birth of beautiful, luxurious materials as opposed to the deaths of our fellow creatures and planet.”
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‘Mylo can make a significant positive impact on our planet’
Dan Widmaier, CEO and founder of Bolt Threads added: “Creating new, high-quality biomaterials is a major technological challenge and a massive opportunity for people and the planet.
“I am incredibly grateful and humbled by Stella and her team for their long-term partnership and support in bringing Mylo™️to the world.
“The material used in these two garments not only represents a huge step forward in both aesthetics and performance of biomaterials but also marks the beginning of the rollout of product-ready Mylo™️.
“This is tangible progress toward large-scale production where Mylo™️can make a significant positive impact on our planet.”
The Stella McCartney mycelium clothing line is not for sale, but the designer will incorporate Mylo into future seasonal collections.
When thinking about clothing options, have you ever asked yourself ‘who made my clothes’?
Find out the uncomfortable truth here.
