FABRIC: FORAGER™
Region: California, USA
Fabric Name:
Forager™
Species/Origin:
Fungi, Mycelium technology
Who made our fabric:
Ecovative, USA
Natural history and ecology:
Fungi represent the culmination of millions of years of evolution's continuous innovation. Through an in-depth examination of mycelium growth, researchers at Ecovative harness its most beneficial characteristics: strength, durability, flexibility, and texture. Forager has the capacity to meet or surpass the technical and performance standards required for various uses in the apparel, fashion, and automotive sectors, tailored to the specific needs of a brand or collaborator. The result is a material crafted by humans but shaped by nature.
What makes this so special: This material by New York based Ecovative is called Forager. Made from multiple species of wild fungi, Ecovative uses AirMycelium™ technology to cultivate durable, synthetic-free, and entirely vegan materials for the fashion industry. This Forager material is crafted from mycelium, the root structure of fungi, grown in a controlled environment using agricultural waste and serves as a viable alternative to environmentally harmful leather fabrics.
Grown in only nine days, Forager™ pure mycelium hides are 100% vegan, with naturally high tensile strength, tear resistance, durability, and other traits that are equal to animal leathers.
“Forager, a division of Ecovative, is dedicated to creating tunable, plastic-free non-woven textiles and high performance foams for various industries, including fashion, footwear, and automotive. The innovative aspect lies in the use of mycelium, the root structure of fungi, as the primary material. The mycelium is cultivated on plant-based waste such as corn husks and seed hulls, resulting in materials that are not only fully biodegradable and home-compostable but also free from plastic or fiber additives.
— Andy Bass/Forager™
Andy Bass
Andy Bass, the Chief Marketing Officer at Ecovative, leads the marketing strategies of this trailblazing mycelium technology company. Ecovative specializes in transforming mycelium, a natural component of mushrooms, into high performing alternatives for various applications in multiple industries. The company cultivates mycelium in specialized indoor vertical farms using their AirMycelium™ technology, ensuring optimal growth conditions. Their innovative approach enables the integration of mycelium within existing supply chains and existing infrastructure in the markets they serve, showcasing its versatility and adaptability. Utilizing plant-based waste as a soil feedstock for mycelium cultivation, Ecovative's approach is deeply rooted in environmental consciousness. Andy Bass underscores the company's commitment to developing eco-friendly solutions and paving the way for future advancements in mycelium biotechnology.