Mycelium is a broad and emerging category of biotechnology and natural materials being explored across many industries. We use fungi in applications in construction, packaging and interiors.

Commonly across these industries and in the literature they are noted for the following properties:

• Low-cost and made from agricultural waste feedstocks.

• A Lightweight, airy structure created by the roots.

• Durable materials when dried, with excellent compressive strength.

• Insulating thermally and acoustically due to the air pockets in mycelium formation.

• Fire retardant and self-extinguishing due to chitin base and char production.

• Grown in 4 days typically very low impact, and low input regenerative manufacturing processes.

• A regenerative life cycle with the raw mycelium producing compostable materials that nourish the soil, increase water retention and aerate the soil biome.

• A method of carbon capture through diverting organic waste resources from landfills where decomposition releases methane.

The academic exploration of mycelium as a innovative material category is a growing field. Key studies have been able to highlight some of the performance properties of the materials and explore potential industry applications. Fungal materials technology and biodesign in this area is an emerging field, worthy of further exploration.

This literature review is an exploration of the published materials characteristics across construction, packaging and textile applications in order to assess viability for novel material development in performance textile technology.

While some initial research has been conducted on Mycelium Based-Leathers, the majority of the studies focus on the rigid composite forms, leaving a gap in the literature for Flexible Fungal Materials to be researched, and novel applications for the materials to be developed.