Stella McCartney Unveils First Luxury Mushroom Bag

Written by The VEGPRENEUR Team

Fungi-based textile startup Hydefy makes its debut through a vegan fungi leather bag with Stella McCartney, bringing biotech-driven materials into luxury’s commercial conversation.

Stella McCartney is once again pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion—this time with mushrooms. At her Spring/Summer 2025 runway show, she unveiled a new version of her signature Stella Ryder bag made with a fungi-based material developed by biotech startup Hydefy.

The sleek metallic bag is the first product to feature Fy, Hydefy’s proprietary textile made from fungi discovered during NASA-supported research in Yellowstone National Park. By combining the fungi with sugarcane waste through fermentation, the company has created a flexible, durable material designed to rival leather—without the environmental cost.

The bag represents McCartney’s most advanced vegan accessory yet and is now available for order on her website.

Hydefy’s launch comes as global interest in mycelium (the root structure of fungi) continues to grow. The market is projected to more than double by 2032, with uses across fashion, food, packaging, and construction. In fashion specifically, mycelium offers a promising alternative to traditional leather, which is a major contributor to global emissions.

While other startups have explored fungi-based textiles, many have faced challenges with cost and scalability. Hydefy aims to change that by offering a high-performance, customizable material suitable for fashion, automotive, and interior design. The company also provides rapid prototyping services to support designers in development.

With this collaboration, Hydefy steps confidently into the luxury space, offering a market-ready, sustainable alternative that combines innovation with commercial potential.