Mushroom leather is finally here. British designer, Stella McCartney, in collaboration with California-based, Bolt Threads, is now selling the Frayme Mylo mushroom bag, exclusively in Stella McCartney boutiques.
This marks a milestone in vegan fashion progress as it is the first time that a bag made from mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, will be sold commercially.
“It’s been an honor to partner so closely with Stella and her team as they break new ground in luxury fashion with Mylo. Their category-defining leadership of animal-free fashion and championship of sustainable materials is paving a path forward toward a more responsible fashion industry. Bringing the first-ever luxury bag made from Mylo to market is a massive milestone for conscientious consumers, the biomaterials industry, and the future of luxury fashion” - Dan Widmaier, Founder & CEO, Bolt Threads
The Mylo material, is a verified vegan alternative to animal leather that is soft, supple, and has significantly lower environmental impacts than raising livestock. Unlike other vegan leather alternatives, it is not petroleum-based meaning less use of fossil fuel and less plastic is deposited into landfills and oceans.
An amazing step forward in slowing the destruction of vital ecosystems from greenhouse gas emissions produced by animal agriculture, not to mention the nearly 300KG of toxic chemicals which are released into the environment for every tonne of animal hide tanned.
The Frayme Mylo is handcrafted by Italian artisans and inspired by the iconic Falabella tote. It features a bold chunky chain made from recyclable aluminum and will be available in Stella McCartney boutiques as of today. It will be released in a limited edition drop with each bag numbered from 1 to 100.
While it's been a long time coming, and after thousands of iterations, it appears this luxurious and sustainable alternative to animal leather will finally be available to all.
Images courtesy of Stella McCartney