'First-Ever' Clothing From Vegan Mushroom Leather Launched By Stella McCartney

23 March 2021

The luxury fashion industry is gradually entering the sphere of sustainable material innovation, as was recently seen in Hermes’ release of a mushroom leather bag and H&M’s introduction of cactus leather. Many Indian brands have also opted for sustainable and ethical alternatives for leather, including cactus and pineapple leather.

In a landmark for cruelty-free fashion, the first ever clothing made from mushroom leather has been released by Stella McCartney.

McCartney, fashion designer and daughter of the legendary Beatles musician Sir Paul McCartney, has released a sustainable and cruelty-free garment made with Mylo. The mushroom leather is a mycelium-based material, and the garments have been co-developed with Bolt Threads.

The vegan and sustainable leather has been used to make a black bustier top and utilitarian trousers. McCartney posted a picture of the outfit, calling the mushroom leather “the future of fashion”. The outfit was modelled by environmentalist and actress Paris Jackson.

McCartney also quoted Jackson in her post: “If Stella and @BoltThreads can innovate a leather alternative out of mushrooms, and not plastic, why wouldn’t anyone be for it? I’m overjoyed and utterly grateful to be on the right side of change, and to be apart of something so much bigger than myself: saving the animals and the environment, one thread at a time."

Prior to this garment, Stella McCartney released the Falabella bag made from mushroom leather in 2018.

Throughout her fashion career, Stella McCartney has attempted to participate in ethical, cruelty-free fashion. Her brand does not use animal-derived fabrics such as leather or fur. Moreover, both of McCartney’s parents have been vocal about animal rights in the past. Sir Paul McCartney is a vegan and his late wife Linda McCartney was an active proponent for animal rights.

Animal leather is an extremely resource-intensive product, while also having a high carbon footprint and releasing toxic waste. The fashion industry is responsible for millions of animal lives per year. In this scenario, the shift to innovative, cruelty-free and environmentally-friendly materials by luxury brands is encouraging.