Back in May, we put together a round-up of sustainable highlights from the FW22 Fashion Week. And, amongst that coverage, you might remember talk of a mushroom leather jacket from Balenciaga. Now, true to their word, the Paris-based house has made the plant-based piece available for purchase. 

Crafted from EPHEA™ and appropriately dubbed the Maxi Hooded Wrap Coat, the outerwear item makes for a doubly noteworthy release: not just a first for the French luxury house, but also the first time that this mushroom leather material has been produced at this kind of volume, or with this kind of heavy-duty construction.

Organic and coated with a non-toxic finish, the piece simulates the tactile and visual aspects of a hide-based material thanks to an iteration of EPHEA™ engineered specifically for Balenciaga – a variation which the brand describes as being created to “respect the safety of people and our environment, offering technical performance and a low ecological footprint without compromising quality.”

With a subtle, patched look, the overall aesthetic is rounded-off with two front pockets and an oversized hood – which fans of the brand will recognize as typical of Balenciaga’s visual codes – and a wool lining, which it’s worth noting is not similarly plant-based (Balenciaga has gone fur and exotic leather free, but wool is different from fur, in the material sense).

If you’re in the market to purchase the Maxi Hooded Wrap Coat, and can afford the $11,350 USD price tag, you can find the mushroom leather offering at selected Balenciaga stores – including Beijing, Beverly Hills, London, Milan, New York City, Paris, Shanghai, Tokyo and Toronto – and online at Balenciaga.com.