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Ecovative
Ecovative Forager Hides, MII Next-gen Materials, Next-gen Leather, Alternative Leather, Mycelium Leather
Material Name: 

MycoFlex™, Forager™ Hides

Biomimicry: 

Leather

Main Input: 

Mycelium

Founded: 

2007

HQ: 

United States

TRL: 

5

Founder(s): 

Gavin McIntyre, Eben Bayer

Website: 

https://ecovative.com/

About the Company

Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre developed and patented a method for growing mycelium-based insulation called Greensulate as part of a course project at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 2007, the pair founded Ecovative Design to use mycelium to grow materials that replace plastics and reduce animal slaughter. They first developed and commercialized production of mycelium-based packaging called Mushroom® Packaging, which is used by a number of top brands. Since their founding, the company has received numerous awards and holds dozens of patents for mycelium-based packaging and materials, including a leather alternative. Investments and partnerships in 2011 allowed the company to increase their staff and open a 35,000 ft² (~3250 m²) Mycelium Foundry located in Green Island, NY. In 2019, the company announced an investment of $10 million to open an advanced research facility for mycelium in California with an initial focus on mycelium-based meat.

Material

MycoFlex™ and Forager™ hides are 100% mycelium structure.

Technology

Ecovative’s proprietary AirMycelium™ vertical farms grow mycelium materials at industrial scale on agricultural waste. Forager™ Hides grow over 20 meters long by 2 meters wide in just 9 days from seed to harvest.

Applications

Fashion, footwear, accessories.

Selected Brand Partnerships

Seeking partnerships

Ecovative Forager Hides, MII Next-gen Materials, Next-gen Leather, Alternative Leather, Mycelium Leather

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Ecovative Design Mycoflex insulator for gloves. MII Nex-gen Materials, Alternative Leather, Mycelium Leather.

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Images: Ecovative Forager Hides.

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