What is Mycelium Leather? Does it exist?

[RobertoDR69]

Hi all

A bit of an interesting one for you. 

Does anyone know anything about Mycelium leather and how does it compare with animal leather? 

The question has came up with a chat with my son, who is only a teenager and is not into killing animals; yes these youngsters are changing. So is there an alternative to animal leather?  

If so, how does the dying process work as well as how to put the final wax, oil on to the finished product?

[Dwight]

It's a greaseball funky product made by vegans who think all animals should be taken off the planet.

May God bless,

Dwight

[tsunkasapa]

It is mushroom 'leather'. While I have heard of it, I have no experience with it. It is nothing that I am likely to try.

[Gabriel Rasa]

It's likely a high percentage of plastic; most of these "vegan leathers" are, even the ones advertising themselves as made of cactus, or seaweed, or in this case mushrooms. Read the fine print, it's usually still like 40% plastic, and will behave as such. You might as well just work with vinyl. =/

Drives me crazy, because they're selling people on the idea that it's better for the earth than real leather, but it's not, it's just harder to quantify the environmental damage of plastic than "1 leather item = at least 1 dead cow." But there's no such thing as vegan leather, it's plastic, it sheds microplastic particles, it has a fraction of the lifespan of leather, and it does not return to the earth as gracefully, just clogs up the landfills. Responsible environmental stewardship is important to me too, but a blanket ban on all animal products is not the answer.

/end rant

 

[AlZilla]

2 hours ago, Gabriel Rasa said:

sheds microplastic particles

Keep ranting, @Gabriel Rasa

For 6 decades I've been thumbing my nose at environmentalists (remember global cooling that was going to usher in a new ice age?).  Even I am buying into microplastics. Your polyester clothes even shed microplastics when you wash them.  It's not breaking down any time soon.

If this faux leather is plastic,  I'd avoid it like plague.

[SUP]

I can never understand people who don't want to use leather. I don't see them telling people not to eat beef or other meats;  I know people who only  use 'vegan leather' but who eat meats!

Besides, expecting the world to stop eating meats is a pipe dream.

My take is that as long as people eat the insides of an animal, I am using the outsides - making best use of the animal's involuntary sacrifice. When I say that, the vegan warriors usually shut up. LOL

Besides, I wonder about mycelium leather - if not properly treated, will there be spores left behind? If so, if the leather gets wet or even in humid weather, will there be mushrooms sprouting on handbags and watch straps? New fashion statement perhaps?

[Handstitched]

15 hours ago, tsunkasapa said:

It is mushroom 'leather'. While I have heard of it, I have no experience with it. It is nothing that I am likely to try.

I think I saw a report in one of our newspapers regarding' mushroom leather', I only saw the headline with a pic , but I looked at it with a huge dose of skepticism  and a sideways glance. 

Like you, theres not ' mush-room' in my line of work for that, I'll stick with the real stuff . 

HS 

PS:   legs of lamb were on special today at our supermarket  lol  

HS

 

[bladegrinder]

Mmm… leg of lamb and reconstituted mycelium leather gravy. 

[Gezzer]

20 hours ago, RobertoDR69 said:

 

Does anyone know anything about Mycelium leather and how does it compare with animal leather? 

 

 

Simple ........ one IS " leather " the other is not .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[grep]

On 11/8/2023 at 8:53 AM, RobertoDR69 said:

Hi all

A bit of an interesting one for you. 

Does anyone know anything about Mycelium leather and how does it compare with animal leather? 

The question has came up with a chat with my son, who is only a teenager and is not into killing animals; yes these youngsters are changing. So is there an alternative to animal leather?  

If so, how does the dying process work as well as how to put the final wax, oil on to the finished product?

Well, my understanding of mycelia is that it's really more of the structure that various fungi grow as.
Mushroom leather has been made from different species. In addition to use as a leather alternative, mycelium is also being investigated as an architectural material, with promising results.

Reportedly it's about as strong as deerskin and has coloring, texturing and patterning possibilities beyond that of animal skin. It is light, insulating and good against skin (particularly those with eczema), breathable and can be waterproofed.
It's grown in bags on a sterilized substrate like any fungus (straw, wood chips, corn, etc). After a few weeks it's extracted, compressed and dried. During compression, before drying, dyes are added and textures are created (cow, gator, snake, etc). It can also be pressed into a desired form during this process if not left flat.
Here's a place that sell some: https://lifematerials.eu/shop/muskin-cruelty-free-and-oil-free-vegan-leatherette/

I know folks like to poo-poo the vegans and environmentalists for cause, but I wouldn't be so quick to write off potential new materials.