Hermès is rolling out a vegan leather alternative made from mushrooms

The designer brand known for its leather goods has partnered with Californian start-up MycoWorks in developing a sustainable mushroom leather known as ‘Sylvania’. The new material is set to appear on a version of the classic victorian travel bag this year.

Biotech materials are becoming increasingly more common, with the industry set to be worth $2.44 Trillion by 2028. It is evident that global brands are starting to make a shift or at least offer an alternative for consumers who wish to buy into luxury more consciously. 

Hermès is not the first brand to start the shift into more ethical practices. Last year, the Prada group decided it would cease the use of fur after a 2019 poll revealed 23% people in the US saw fur as “inappropriate material” for use in clothing. 

It has not yet been confirmed if the new mushroom material will take on more of the brands accessories, including the holy grail of handbags, ‘The Birkin’, traditionally made of calfskin. The bag was developed in 1981 when British actress Jane Birkin received a surprise upgrade on her Air France flight, finding herself seated next to the then CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. After a pleasant exchange and not enough room in her carry on bag, Dumas decided it was time to dedicate a bag to Birkin. 

Whether or not we will see classics like the Birkin made from mushrooms, it’s great to see that consumer demand is driving the shift to a more conscious consumption. 

Image: Chi Lok Tsang