Fashion's Fungal Future: From Runways to Mycelium Leather
The fashion industry is increasingly turning to fungi for sustainable alternatives, inspired by artists and thinkers like Anna Tsing and Anicka Yi. In February 2022, Anicka Yi's exhibition at Pirelli HangarBicocca explicitly referenced Tsing's work on mushrooms. For Alexander McQueen's autumn-winter 2022-23 collection, Sarah Burton staged a show in a Brooklyn warehouse with tons of mulch on the runway, referencing mycelium networks. Burton's designs featured vibrant mushroom motifs and silk fringe representing mycelium, though no mushroom leather was used; 85% of materials were recycled. Stella McCartney debuted the Mylo bag made from mycelium in March 2021, and even Hermès produced a mushroom leather bag after investing in crocodile farming. The article argues that fungi are reshaping fashion's approach to sustainability.
Key facts
- Anicka Yi's exhibition at Pirelli HangarBicocca in February 2022 referenced Anna Tsing's work on fungi.
- Sarah Burton's Alexander McQueen autumn-winter 2022-23 show in a Brooklyn warehouse used tons of mulch on the runway.
- Burton's collection featured mushroom motifs and silk fringe representing mycelium.
- 85% of materials in the Alexander McQueen collection were recycled.
- Stella McCartney presented the Mylo bag made from mycelium in March 2021.
- Hermès produced a mushroom leather bag after investing in crocodile farming.
- Anna Tsing's book 'The Mushroom at the End of the World' was published in Italian in 2021.
- Merlin Sheldrake's 'Entangled Life' was published in 2020.
Entities
Artists
- Anicka Yi
- Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing
- Merlin Sheldrake
- Sarah Burton
- Donna Haraway
- Stella McCartney
Institutions
- Pirelli HangarBicocca
- Alexander McQueen
- Stella McCartney
- Hermès
- Artribune Magazine
- ArtReview
- Keller
Locations
- Brooklyn
- New York
- Australia
- Rovereto
- Italy