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A prototype boot is made entirely from pure mycelium, developed by designer Lars Dittrich and shoemaker Marie De Ryck. Moving beyond mycelium as a leather substitute, the project uses the fungal material as a structural element, creating a load-bearing sole without added reinforcement.
Developed over two years as part of the MycoMatters research programm, the design combines advanced biomaterials research with traditional shoemaking techniques. Built from layered mycelium components, the boot embraces visible seams, natural textures, and the unique character of the material, demonstrating the potential of pure mycelium in functional footwear.
This experimental footwear concept is crafted entirely from pure mycelium, the underground fungal network that serves as the foundation of the material. Developed through a collaboration between researcher and designer Lars Dittrich of Vrije Universiteit Brussel and master shoemaker Marie De Ryck of La Monnaie/De Munt, the project explores how emerging biomaterials can be integrated with traditional craftsmanship.
Rather than using mycelium merely as a coating or leather alternative, the team employed it as a structural material. The sole is formed from bonded layers of pure mycelium, creating a dense, self-supporting construction capable of bearing weight without added reinforcement.
Over a two-year development period, the team refined the design through continuous experimentation, balancing natural fungal growth processes with functional performance requirements. A major challenge involved transforming flat-grown mycelium sheets into a durable three-dimensional sole.
Two fungal strains were selected for their complementary characteristics: one produces a foam-like material suitable for shaping the sole, while the other generates a flexible, leather-like sheet used for the upper section.
Drawing inspiration from traditional shoemaking techniques, the project reinterprets leather sole lamination for mycelium-based construction. The resulting boot embraces visible layers, exposed stitching, and natural variations in the material, highlighting its unique qualities rather than concealing them.
As Dittrich explains, the piece serves as a proof of concept, demonstrating the current possibilities of pure mycelium fabrication and showcasing how a living, microorganism-based material can be transformed into a functional three-dimensional object.
