Researchers in China have developed an innovative material based on a living fungus and sewn it into a dress. This "fabric" can change color, self-clean, and fully decompose in soil, reports infohub.kz.
In their work, the scientists used the mycelium of Cordyceps militaris — the thin threads that form the fungus. Unlike traditional materials made from it, the fungus was not completely dehydrated or destroyed. Its biological activity was preserved, allowing the material to grow and repair itself.
The process began with cultivating mycelium in a liquid medium, where it formed small pellets. These were then placed into molds and dried to produce strong sheets that require no glue or additional support.
To give the material fabric-like properties, it was treated with glycerin. After that, the sheets could be folded, cut, and sewn. The researchers even made a rope from strips of mycelium that can withstand loads up to 1 kg, and then created a dress from the material.
But the most remarkable thing is that the material turned out to be more than just an unusual fabric substitute. Yeast was embedded into it, which produces pigments when certain nutrients are present. This allows the fabric to take on blue, red, orange, and purple colors depending on the environment.
The fungus also grows in specified directions, forming patterns and aiding in self-cleaning of the surface. Additionally, the material can partially regrow in a moist nutrient medium, and in soil it almost completely decomposes in about 40 days.
There is still a long way to go before such material can be used in everyday clothing. Scientists need to make it more durable, resistant to washing, and controllable. In the future, the technology is planned for use not only in clothing but also in medicine, construction, and environmental projects.
If Chinese researchers manage to make such materials comfortable and strong enough for regular clothing, it could seriously transform the fashion industry. Today, the world accumulates a huge amount of unwanted clothing each year, which has already become an environmental problem. The new approach could eventually reduce textile waste and make production more sustainable.