Nature’s threads: creating clothes from the ground up

Researchers are turning to two crops to tackle the environmental harm of apparel made with synthetic fibres.

By  Ali Jones

From risottos to sauces, mushrooms have long been a staple in the kitchen. Now fungi are showing the potential to serve up more than just flavour – as a sustainable, bendy material for the fashion industry.

Researchers are using the web-like structure of the mushroom’s root system – the mycelium – as an alternative to synthetic fibres for clothing and other products such as car seats.