Balenciaga Made A Coat From Mushroom Derived EPHEA

by SHOWstudio on 27 October 2022

The maison introduced the leather-like bio-based material as part of its A/W 22 collection.

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Are mushrooms the future of sustainable fashion? Kering-owned label Balenciaga seems to think so by crafting a coat from its A/W 22 collection entirely from EPHEA. The innovative leather-like substance is derived from mycelium and has been touted as a sustainable alternative to leather thanks to its durability and the minimal amounts of CO2 it emits during production. The leather alternative substance was created by the innovations company Sqim which began developing fabrications for Balenciaga in 2021.

Balenciaga A/W 22 Maxi Hooded Wrap Coat

Named the Maxi Hooded Wrap Coat, the patched style was designed by creative director Demna and made its runway debut at the maison's snowy A/W 22 show. It joins a growing list of high-end luxury products created from the mycelium material along with Stella McCartney's Frayme Mylo, which was dubbed the first handbag made of the leather alternative. Just in time for the drop in temperature, the hardy coat is now available in select Balenciaga stores worldwide. Who knew mushrooms would be able to keep us warm all winter long?