WEEK 1: Research and find a textile or material innovation you consider inspiring and bring a reference of this to class in week 2. (e.g. A4 Hard copy colour print out)
Textile fibre company ‘Bolt Threads’ founded by Dan Widmaier who has a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology started Mylo in collaboration with ‘Ecovative Design’ who grow materials founding the creation of using mycelium fabrication to create “soft flexible foams” in 2018. (Council of Fashion Design, 2018).
This material was made from engineering “mycelium cells”. The mycelium is then grown in beds of “by-products and agricultural waste”, nourishing each cell as if it was growing in its natural environment. At bolt threads they control the growing conditions of the cell through humidity and temperature, to allow an “organized mat of interconnected cells” Once the cells have formed a mesh structure they are harvested and use environmentally-sound dyes to tan it. Once this process is complete, they imprint it with a pattern which creates the final material.
I found this material inspiring as I had never really heard off anything like it before. I found it amazing how they were able to use the cells of fungi to create leather instead of using animal hides made from collagen. Another aspect of the material I found pretty remarkable was it qualities when comparing it to leather itself the fact it can grow in a matter of weeks instead of years when using proper animal hide as well as how realistic features are to leather.
Another fact I found interesting about Mylo is the way you can control the environment it grows in which allows for different feature properties including “thickness, shape and more”. I also found its ability to biodegrade inspiring due to the continuous development in environmental concerns surrounding textile products. The last factor I found interesting was the comparison to synthetic leathers that have already been produce compared to these Mylo “feels natural” and has better moisture management” creating a soft, durable and abrasion resistance material.
when looking at design ideas and how it can inspire my own work, Mylo inspires me to push the boundaries.
Image Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/fashion/bolt-threads-spider-silk-mushroom-leather-mylo-dan-widmaier-a4402066.html
“Mycelium is the branching underground structure of mushrooms”