stella mccartney partners with mylo unleather and bolt threads to create the first garments innovated from the companies’ vegan mushroom leather. while the fashion industry has a long way to go when it comes to reversing its environmental impact, the designer seeks to demonstrate that measurable progress could be made simply by cutting out leather and its synthetic ‘vegan’ alternatives. a lifelong vegan herself, stella mccartney has never made use of animal hides or furs in her company’s 20 year lifespan. in fact, she has long believed that leather products — and the toxic chemical processes required to craft them — are among the worst offenders in the game. while mushroom mycelium has been used in the development of handbags and watches, this ready-to-wear phenomenon marks an important step in the future of sustainable fashion.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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with the newly unveiled mushroom mycelium leather line, stella mccartney and mylo unleather work together to sidestep the great debate over which is ‘worse’ for the environment: real or faux? recognizing that neither leather, faux leather, nor recycled synthetic materials are ever truly ideal, the designer visited bolt threads in 2016 where she was introduced to the untapped potentials of biofabricated materials. the long collaboration has at last resulted in a full line of garments made from ‘mylo,’ the team’s most promising plant-based innovation. while not precisely mushroom leather, this ‘unleather’ material is grown from mycelium, the underground root structure of a fungus. 

stella mccartney unveils the world's first garments of mylo mushroom-grown leather
image courtesy of stella mccartney

 

 

over the past few years, stella mccartney and the research team behind mylo unleather worked closely to achieve the ideal weight and drape of the mushroom-based mycelium leather. the mycelium used to make mylo is grown from mulch, air, and water in just a few short weeks, compared to the years it takes to raise cattle. the state-of-the-art process is designed to have a minimal environmental impact, helping to save on water, greenhouse gas emissions and protecting vital ecosystems like the amazon from deforestation. the team had completed a handbag for the 2018 ‘fashioned from nature‘ exhibition at london’s victoria and albert museum and had since formed a consortium with kering, adidas, and lululemon to invest in mylo’s development. following these successes, the group unveils the the industry’s first-ever mylo garments, comprising a jet-black bustier and utility pants.

stella mccartney unveils the world's first garments of mylo mushroom-grown leather
image courtesy of stella mccartney

stella mccartney unveils the world's first garments of mylo mushroom-grown leather
image courtesy of stella mccartney

stella mccartney unveils the world's first garments of mylo mushroom-grown leather
image courtesy of stella mccartney

stella mccartney unveils the world's first garments of mylo mushroom-grown leather
image courtesy of stella mccartney

stella mccartney unveils the world's first garments of mylo mushroom-grown leather
image courtesy of mylo unleather

stella mccartney unveils the world's first garments of mylo mushroom-grown leather
image courtesy of mylo unleather