The product’s capabilities were confirmed through rigorous testing on samples cultivated at Mycoworks’ large-scale facility in South Carolina, demonstrating its competitiveness with traditional leather on several critical performance metrics.
The comprehensive testing regimen highlighted the exceptional strength, resilience, and overall quality of the Fine Mycelium materials produced by MycoWorks.
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Independent evaluations conducted by CTC Groupe on 14 February, revealed that Reishi, treated with the proprietary Rei-Tanning process, exceeded most standards across five essential performance categories.
In the Bally Flex resistance category, which measures flexibility and creasing endurance, Reishi withstood up to 20,000 cycles and showed up to 25,600 cycles in the Martindale Abrasion Resistance (assessing surface wear) test.
The material successfully passed 200 cycles in the Colorfastness test, which evaluates resistance to dye transfer. It also passed the Ageing Test, which simulated conditions at 50°C and 90% relative humidity.
The Finish Adhesion, which tests the bond strength of finishes, saw the material achieve a result of 0.5N/mm.
Additionally, MycoWorks’ key collaborator Ligne Roset carried out its own stringent assessments within its internal laboratory. These tests are known for their high demands which surpass common industry standards for furniture.
Notably, Reishi excelled in the Martindale Abrasion Resistance test with an impressive endurance of up to 50,000 cycles and withstood a simulated sitting test designed to mimic the stress of a 100kg individual over more than 25,000 cycles.
MycoWorks’ Rei-Tanning Technology was developed jointly by its San Francisco-based Innovation Centre and Spanish tannery experts in Igualada.
This proprietary process significantly improves the consistency of Reishi sheets, facilitating their use in luxury goods that require complex construction techniques such as “stitch-and-turn” and edge applications.
Rei-Tanning involves a treatment that endows Reishi sheets with desired characteristics like plumpness, softness, durability, and resistance to water and other elements.
The MycoWorks Fine Mycelium material is said to have garnered attention for its use in partnerships with elite brands such as Hermes, GM, and Ligne Roset, along with prominent fashion entities. This is partly due to the superior characteristics of the material, which have been enhanced through collaborations with Spanish tanneries.
This Fine Mycelium product is now available directly to customers for purchase through MycoWorks’ newly launched e-commerce platform.
