Dive Brief:
- MycoWorks has launched an e-commerce site for its mycelium material Reishi, according to a press release Tuesday.
- The startup is selling the material in various quantities, including in a sample kit with swatches, a single sheet, as well as in larger orders ranging from 15 to 50 sheets, per the release.
- MycoWorks’ material has been used by various brands including Hermès, Heron Preston and Nick Fouquet. The e-commerce platform marks the first time consumers are able to purchase the material directly.
Dive Insight:
Emeryville, California-based MycoWorks was founded in 2013 with the intention of bringing new mycelium-grown materials to the market. The company primarily targets the luxury sector. In addition to fashion, it has partnerships with furniture brand Ligne Roset and automotive manufacturer General Motors.
Prices of Reishi range from $150 for the sample kit to $8,000 for 50 sheets, and it’s available in six different finishes.
On Tuesday, MycoWorks also announced that it began implementing new leather tanning technology in partnership with its San Francisco-based team and its Spain-based tannery.
Dubbed “Rei-Tanning,” the tech is meant to enhance Reishi’s performance, as well as its haptics and resistance to water. In the release, the company said the tech overcomes challenges common to biomaterials, including having comparable durability to traditional leather.
In 2023, MycoWorks began commercial-scale production of Reishi at its facility in South Carolina. At the time, MycoWorks said the plant could grow millions of square feet of the material each year.
Last year, Ligne Roset announced its intent to procure “a significant portion” of the production capacity for Reishi from the plant.
However MycoWorks isn’t the only player in the mycelium materials industry.
Last year, Kering-backed Mogu Srl, which creates mycelium-based products, raised about $12 million in Series A funding. Additionally, biological science and design company Ecovative Design, which supplies mycelium-derived hide textiles and flexible foams to brand partners, raised about $30 million in funding in 2023.
