korvaa shoes come to life using mycelium, bacterial nanocellulose and biodegradable plastics

Lightweight Footwear emerging from the use of biomaterials

The Korvaa Consortium unveils shoes that emerge from using mycelium, bacterial nanocellulose, and biodegradable plastics. Debuted at the Future Fabrics Expo 2025 in London, which ran between June 24th and 25th, the concept footwear is a collaboration between three biomaterial technologies. Modern Synthesis takes care of the upper, or the top part of the Korvaa shoes. They used bacterial nanocellulose for it, which is a natural substance produced during fermentation, and transformed it into an upper fabric.

The bottom of the footwear is 3D printed by Ourobio using polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), or biodegradable polyesters made from plants or bacteria. They break down naturally, unlike regular plastic, and within them, the mycelium infused by Ecovation grew in around seven days, turning the bottom part of the Korvaa shoes into a lightweight and robust sole. Once all is done, shoemakers put all the materials together, with the laces and linings made from cotton and lyocell, a soft fabric made from wood pulp.

all images courtesy of Korvaa Consortium

korvaa shoes made of mycelium and biodegradable plastics

Aside from its debut at the Future Fabrics Expo 2025, the design team documents the full process of making the Korvaa shoes made of mycelium, bacterial nanocellulose, and biodegradable plastics. Shot by the Finnish science communication company Photino Science Communications, the documentary titled Planet of the Microbes is slated to be released at a major film festival later this year. By sharing how the Korvaa shoes are made, the documentary allows viewers to see and understand the bio and alternative materials producers can use to create footwear.

Each material making up the Korvaa shoes made of mycelium, bacterial nanocellulose, and biodegradable plastics is chosen carefully by the London-based company, the New York-based biotechnology group, and the materials science team. For the design collectives, the footwear showcases how nature-based materials can replace traditional materials that rely on many synthetic (man-made, often plastic-based) components. So far, the Korvaa shoes made of mycelium, bacterial nanocellulose, and biodegradable plastics are concept footwear.

the upper of the footwear comes from bacterial nanocellulose

the sole made of biodegradable polyesters has grown mycelium within it

the laces and linings are made from cotton and lyocell

the concept footwear is a collaboration between three biomaterial technologies

the documentary titled Planet of the Microbes documents the making of the shoes

the film is slated to be released at a major film festival later this 2025

project info:

name: Korvaa shoes

team: Modern Synthesis, Ourobio, Ecovative, Photino Science Communications | @modern_synthesis, @ecovative