You Don't Need Cows to Make Leather

Synopsis

Microworks, a company co-founded by Sophia Wang and artist Philip Ross in 2013, focuses on creating premium sustainable materials from mycelium, a component of fungi. The company recently partners with luxury brand Hermès, marking a significant step towards integrating luxurious fungus into high-end fashion. Mycelium grows abundantly with minimal inputs, making it an ideal natural resource. The company cultivates mycelium in enclosed trays, manipulating its genetic makeup and growth conditions to produce a tightly intertwined structure. This innovative approach allows Microworks to customize the material's strength, flexibility, and thickness for various applications. The collaboration with Hermès could potentially revolutionize the fashion industry by introducing sustainable alternatives to traditional leather products.