Hermes Sylvania mushroom-based leather

[Liberté]

According to the Business of Fashion, Hermes is testing alternative materials in a break with tradition, reimagining its ‘Victoria’ travel bag in a lab-grown substitute.

From the Mycoworks website,

The new material Sylvania, a hybrid of nature and biotechnology, is the exemplar of a new generation of biotech materials.

It is an exclusive collaboration by Hermès and MycoWorks, and the first object made with Fine Mycelium, the patented technology from MycoWorks that enhances mycelium as it grows.
Matt Scullin, MycoWorks CEO, says:
“We could not imagine a better partner than Hermès to present our first object made of Fine Mycelium. Hermès and MycoWorks share common values of craftsmanship, quality, innovation, and patience.
A collaboration three years in the making, Sylvania is the result of a shared vision for growing the future of materials and a quest to unlock new design possibilities. I was introduced to MycoWorks in 2017, which coincided with Hermès’ first experience with Fine Mycelium. At the time, MycoWorks was based in a small artist’s studio. Together, we saw the potential of this incredible material.

The power of storytelling is key in any new technology or art. Hermès related to our story: that Fine Mycelium was rooted in artistic practice and craftsmanship. At the same time, Hermès recognized that MycoWorks’ unique biotechnology approach to enhancing a natural material meant that Fine Mycelium had the potential to be the highest quality mycelium in the world.

Sylvania represents how nature and biotechnology can work in concert to create a material with the highest standards of quality.”
Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès Artistic Director, says:

“MycoWorks’ vision and values echo those of Hermès: a strong fascination with natural raw material and its transformation, a quest for excellence, with the aim of ensuring that objects are put to their best use and that their longevity is maximized. With Sylvania, Hermès is at the heart of what it has always been: innovation in the making.”

Fine Mycelium, the genesis of Sylvania, is produced in the MycoWorks facility. It is then tanned and finished in France by the Hermès tanners to further refine its strength and durability, and shaped in the workshops by the Hermès craftspeople.
This collaboration pairs expertise in tanning the highest quality materials with the tools of biotechnology.

 

[garçon_H]

Hermès + MycoWorks unveil mushroom-based 'leather' bag made from fine mycelium:
https://www.designboom.com/design/hermes-mycoworks-mushroom-leather-bag-fine-mycelium-03-11-2021/

Surprising move by Hermes. I wonder what the price would be...

 

[bagnut1]

Absolutely. This is the future and I do not doubt that H will do it impeccably.

 

[Lejic]

100% here too. I definitely have no love for knowing animals died when I enjoy my bags and SLGs, but can’t quite give up the quality (my resolution is to buy only what I’ll really use to try and lower the uselessness).
If Hermes quality came to vegan goods I’d be first in line!

 

[etoile de mer]

Wow, my first reaction was, whoa, what? Had not previously heard about this, so interesting! I would definitely investigate when available. Thanks for sharing, and for the link!

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

This is so cool and forward thinking.
I'm curious to how it will look IRL and also how it will age...
I look forward to seeing it in production.

 

[cerulean blue]

100% ready for it! It's really nice to see new innovations being tested in luxury and couldn't imagine a better house to tackle this endeavor.

But do feel it may be more expensive than traditional leather since manufacturing has not industrialized for mushroom leather to be as cheap as leather, and it is a new material to work with.

 

[Les Tambours]

Well, it was coming. We can't go on killing cows and silkworms forever. I'm interested in the technology but developing a look and feel that will be acceptable to the usual Hermes customer might be the challenge. But I'm willing to give it a go!

 

[mursepurse]

I'm curious about this as well and I would be open to alternatives to leather as I always feel a little guilty about buying leather these days.

 

[papertiger]

It'd be a great alternative for vegans.

 

[lara0112]

It'd be a great alternative for vegans.

and plastic (pleather?) - while I appreciate the notion of preserving animals, plastic is so detrimental to the environment. This is a truly vegan alternative.

 

[papertiger]

and plastic (pleather?) - while I appreciate the notion of preserving animals, plastic is so detrimental to the environment. This is a truly vegan alternative.

There are no legal terms, vegan unfortunately can mean plastic.

Hermes already did Amazonia on some GPs.

Mushroom (and pineapple) leather(s) have been in the technological works for a while to give vegans (and all) a biodegradable alternative to plastic for vegans (and everyone).

I'm still going to buy leather.

 

[aisham]

I haven't read the article yet , But I have 2 questions , What would it smell like ? Sniffing leather goods is a real thing the second is , What about fungus ? will this leather have the tendency to grow fungus? or to change color? go bad ? I know they have to treat it and add chemicals and paint but what will happen to it in hot humid weather ?

I hope it will have a lux feel and finish , and I hope this won't rase mushroom prices world wide

 

[doni]

Definetely. Of course I would have to feel it myself, but a priori, I would trust Hermes expertise in considering that this is a material that is worth using and applying their craftmanship to. Even if last time they did something like this, it failed. But hey, you have to keep trying.

Personally I would hope that it is something that feels luxurious but different to leather. More another option and material, instead of a substitute. With its own personality.

 

[lara0112]

Me too. But i like the idea of being forward-thinking.