The permanent end of the monopoly of animal skin in the fashion world
The 2026 Paris Fashion Week has made history for a special reason. Major fashion brands like Gucci and Hermes will stop using animal skin by 2026.
The main ingredient of their new collection is ‘Mycelium’ or leather made from mushroom roots. This radical change in the fashion world is being called ‘The Great Leather Shift’.
Mycelium leather, also known as mushroom leather, can be produced in a laboratory in just a few weeks, while animal skin takes years to obtain.
In addition, this technology saves 99% of the huge amount of land and water that is wasted on raising animals. This new leather of 2026 is not only sustainable, but it is also stronger and more porous than regular leather. It even has natural antibacterial properties.
The economic impact of this revolution is far-reaching. Italy’s traditional leather industry is now being transformed into mushroom farming. The market is already worth more than $20 billion in 2026. Environmentalists support the change but are concerned about job security for leather workers in developing countries.
But futurists say this 2026 trend proves that style and ethics can complement each other. Mushrooms are now essential not only on our plates, but also in our fashion statements.
