
According to MycoWorks, Reishi is the first and currently only material to offer a sustainable solution for the fashion and footwear industries that does not compromise on ‘performance, quality, or aesthetics’.
Natalie Portman and John Legend along with a number of high-profile celebrities and fashion brands have invested in an alternative mycelium-based material firm that has created vegan leather from mushrooms.
The celebrities participated in a US$45 million Series B funding round, led by WTT Investment Ltd. and DCVC Bio, raising capital for MycoWorks to ‘scale up and meet demand’ for its animal-free leather, dubbed ‘Reishi’.
Performs like cowhide leather
The San Francisco based start-up says its signature material Reishi performs like cowhide leather but contains no plastic or animal origin material.
According to MycoWorks, sheets of Reishi’s interwoven Fine Mycelium™ cells are grown to size and can be finely-tuned to offer new design possibilities. The sheets are then finished by ‘traditional tanneries with green, chrome-free chemistry’, demonstrating ‘technological innovation to the traditional craftsmanship that is essential to luxury fashion brands’.
Reishi is the first and currently only material to offer a sustainable solution for the fashion and footwear industries that does not compromise on ‘performance, quality, or aesthetics’.
New production site
The company is also opening a major new Reishi production plant in Emeryville, California, which will be used to meet the extraordinary demand for Reishi materials.
The new plant increases production capacity for the company by over 10x and, together with this new funding, will pave the way for further expansions.
MycoWorks is currently finalizing deals with leading global luxury fashion and footwear brands and consumers can expect to see the first products made with Reishi in the coming months.
MycoWorks, says it has witnessed accelerating demand for its products through 2020 despite the global downturn due to COVID-19.
‘Unmatched product sustainability and versatility’
“At MycoWorks, we’ve created a biotech platform for the fashion and luxury industries that delivers the highest quality, most versatile natural materials on Earth,” CEO of MycoWorks, Matt Scullin said.
“Our vision is to grow the future of materials. We have found partners in these investors who see the long-term potential for MycoWorks to transform many industries with our patented Fine Mycelium™ technology.
“Our customers– major global luxury and footwear brands– require the utmost quality and performance in their finished goods. They recognize that Fine Mycelium™ is the key to achieving this along with unmatched product sustainability and versatility.”
Scullin added that the company was “delighted to welcome Natalie Portman and John Legend, whose support for sustainable options in the fashion industry will only further our traction.”
Share this story to let others know about the new animal-free leather called ‘Reishi’.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
What is a vegan shampoo? And 11 fantastic brands to try
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 27th January 2023
Do you know which ingredients make your shampoo non-vegan? The cosmetic industry has gone through a radical shift in the last few years as more consumers become aware of the impact their purchases make. As a result, the demand for vegan hair care products has soared. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the ingredients in …
Continue reading “What is a vegan shampoo? And 11 fantastic brands to try”
Dietitians claim plant-based diet can stunt growth of infants
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 18th January 2023
The NHS Start for Life website has added information about vegan and vegetarian babies. Nutritionists and dietitians have raised concerns about the health implications of vegan diets for babies following the publication of the NHS’s vegan infant nutrition guide. The NHS Start for Life website, which provides guidance for new parents, has added a new …
Continue reading “Dietitians claim plant-based diet can stunt growth of infants”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …