Balenciaga's New Coat Proves That Real Leather is Dead
The garment is made from EPHEA, an innovative material derived from the vegetative body of a mushroom.
Allow Balenciaga to introduce you to the future of fashion with its new EPHEA coat, made from an innovative material derived from mushroom.
First introduced during the brand’s Winter 2022 showcase as the Maxi Hooded Wrap Coat, the garment marks the first time that this particular plant-based substance has been applied to a fashion garment. We’ve seen it before with Stella McCartney’s Frayme Mylo bag, released earlier this year, but Balenciaga’s coat offers a higher level of craftsmanship in terms of its volume and thickness.
The garment is made from EPHEA, an organic alternative to leathers and synthetics, created exclusively for Balenciaga. The substance also utilizes minimal resources during production and emits minute amounts of CO2 as it feeds on low-value agro-industrial residue. Engineered to reduce an ecological footprint without compromising on quality or performance, EPHEA is the first of its kind to be cultivated on a pure mycelium basis, eliminating the need for contaminating chemicals during the growing process.
The new coat continues Balenciaga’s commitment to lessening the company’s environmental impact, as it begins to consider the effects of the fashion industry in depleting our natural resources. Earlier this year, the brand launched a resell program in stores to encourage its consumers to reuse and recycle.
The Balenciaga Maxi Hooded Wrap Coat made with EPHEA will be available in selected Balenciaga stores in Beijing, Beverly Hills, London, Milan, New York City, Paris, Shanghai, Tokyo and Toronto from the end of October.
