Mushroom Leather Bag By French Luxury Brand Hermès To Debut Soon

15 March 2021

Material innovations are taking over the mainstream fashion industry. H&M recently announced the use of cactus leather in its new collection. Even in India, certain brands have introduced products made with cactus and pineapple leather.

French luxury bag brand Hermès has announced the release of a new version of its famous “Victoria” bag using a vegan leather alternative made with mushrooms. This travel bag will mark Hermès' debut into vegan leather alternatives.

The mushroom leather, called Sylvania, has been co-developed in a lab by Hermès and MycoWorks, a startup based in California. MycoWorks has also won a patent for Sylvania.

Image Courtesy: MycoWorks

The process of creating Sylvania involves turning mycelium, which is a network of threads from the root structure of mushrooms, into a material replicating animal leather. While MycoWorks manufactures Fine Mycelium in California, the final product takes shape in France after being treated by expert tanners.

The vegan leather is as soft and durable as conventional animal leather. Developing this material to fulfil the luxury standard of Hermès took the brand three years. The new Victoria bag will enter the market in late 2021.

“Sylvania represents how nature and biotechnology can work in concert to create a material with the highest standards of quality,” stated MycoWorks CEO Matt Scullin.

Is the Mushroom Leather Victoria Bag Vegan?

While the bag uses mushroom leather, there is also use of calfskin, and the bag is thus not vegan. Moreover, Hermès will continue to manufacture its original Victoria bag without vegan leather.

Hermès also uses crocodile and alligator skin for some of its products which will still be available in the market. Their belts, bags, and watches too are made with animal leather.

However, the adoption of an innovative vegan leather alternative by one of the top luxury brands is a significant step forward in pushing the fashion industry to adopt more cruelty-free and sustainable materials.