Mycelium is the vegetative part of a mushroom and consists out of a network of very fine filaments. Mycelium grows on cellulose waste like wood, hemp, flax, and can turn into light composites that can be used soles and heels. Growing the mycelium on liquid substrates can be turned into flexible and strong material for the use and to replace leather. By simply growing a bio-based material like Mycelium, there will be no longer need to harvest, to waste or to kill.

‘Growing Shoes’, shows the results of experiments in Mycelium to see how shoes can be shaped into solid and hollow models.

Solid shapes function as heels, platforms and insoles of the shoe. In order to achieve these shapes, different waste streams such as coffee grounds and sawdust are used as substrates.

The hollow shapes are grown pure in bottles or on fibers such as hemp and psyllium to achieve strength and structures.

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