When Stella McCartney launched 20 years ago, we brought a conscience to the fashion industry as the first luxury house to never use leather, feathers, fur or skins. Inspired by V is for Vegan from our McCartney A to Z Manifesto and committed to never compromising on desirability or sustainability, our future has always laid in innovation. That vision and those values are perfectly embodied in our latest launch – the world’s first-ever garments made from vegan, lab-grown Mylo™️ mushroom leather.
Paris Jackson wearing Stella McCartney x Mylo™️ garments
Innovated by our long-time partners Bolt Threads, Mylo™️ is a soft, substantial, sustainable leather alternative made from mycelium, the infinitely renewable underground root system of mushrooms. Remarkably similar to animal products with fewer environmental impacts, it is also not petroleum-based unlike most current synthetic options – meaning more fossil fuels can be kept in the ground and less plastic is deposited into landfills and oceans. We used Mylo™️ to create two garments –a black bustier top and utilitarian trousers– that are not for sale, but do embody the potential of this next-generation material and pave the way for future commercial offerings.
These rare, exclusive Mylo™️ pieces embody our shared commitment with Bolt Threads to innovate a kinder fashion industry – one that sees the birth of beautiful, luxurious materials as opposed to the deaths of our fellow creatures and planet.
We first partnered with Bolt Threads on vegan Microsilk™️ in 2017 and have been part of the Mylo™️ journey since its inception. The first product ever created with the mycelium-based material was a prototype of our iconic Falabella bag, which debuted as part of the V&A’s Fashioned from Nature exhibition in 2018.
Mylo™️ is certified bio-based, meaning it is made predominantly from renewable ingredients found in nature today. Scientists at Bolt Threads have spawned a new category of material science by reproducing what happens under the forest floor, where mycelium grows best, in a lab with mulch, air and water.
This state-of-the-art process is designed to have a minimal environmental impact and takes days, not years like raising cattle – helping to save on water, greenhouse gas emissions and protecting vital ecosystems like the Amazon from deforestation. We will continue collaborating with Bolt Threads on Mylo™️ to not only innovate a better material, but create a fashion industry that is kinder to all creatures and Mother Earth.
