The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Material innovation start-up Bolt Threads has paused operations for its leather alternative Mylo after struggling to fund raise, the company said in a statement.
The mycelium-based material gained early interest from the fashion world, engaging brands including Stella McCartney, Adidas and Kering to work with the innovation.
But products containing the material have been slow to reach the market and the company has been unable to raise additional funds to scale production. The news was first reported by Vogue Business.
“Despite our intensive efforts, the current macroeconomic climate has made it increasingly difficult to secure the necessary capital to support the scale up of emerging technologies,” Bolt Threads said in its statement. “As a result, Bolt has made the difficult decision to pause Mylo operations globally until a decision is made on whether or not we can continue our efforts.”
Learn more:
Would You Buy a Mushroom Handbag?
For the first time, brands including Stella McCartney, Balenciaga and Hermès are bringing products made of mushroom-based materials to market, an early test for whether the next-generation fabrics could one day hit the mainstream.
Big brands like H&M Group, Inditex and Nike are turning to biomass like wood pellets and agricultural waste in a bid to get the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel out of energy-intensive manufacturing processes. Climate groups say it’s not any better.
With global temperatures reaching new highs and time running out for brands to deliver on their environmental commitments, here’s what fashion leaders need to know ahead of the start of the UN’s annual climate summit in Dubai Thursday.
A growing body of consumer surveys suggests interest in sustainable consumption is reaching a tipping point. Those surveys are deeply flawed, writes Kenneth P. Pucker.
Vestiaire Collective will now block 30 brands including Gap, H&M and Zara from its platform, adding to an earlier ban on Boohoo and other low-priced online retailers. It’s an eco-conscious spin on a broader push upmarket by secondhand companies.