Stella McCartney to launch mycelium-based leather alternative

In the UK, Marks & Clerk reports that after four years of development and around eight iterations, Stella McCartney is about to launch an initial small run of 100 Frayme handbags using a mycelium-based leather alternative, MYLO. 

Mycelium, the mushroom-based fabric, is being touted as the front-runner in the contest to find a less environmentally damaging alternative to leather. Unlike other next-generation alternatives, mycelium has a manufacturing process that is relatively easy to scale and requires little energy. This has piqued the interest of a number of brands who are joining forces with material science start-ups and manufactures to make mycelium products a reality. 

In the case of Stella McCartney, the brand has joined forces with material solutions company, Bolt Threads, Inc., and has been working closely with them over the past few years to make their mycelium leather market-ready and to address initial issues around brittleness, inconsistency and stickiness. The team recognises that for consumers to get on board with the new fabric, it needs to be as close to real leather as possible.