Forager by Ecovative
Forager by Ecovative is the materials division of Ecovative that grows mycelium-based AirLoom™ Hides and MycoFlex® Foam using its proprietary AirMycelium® vertical-farm platform, selling sustainable leather and foam alternatives to luxury fashion, footwear and consumer-goods brands worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersStaten Island, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Forager by Ecovative does
Forager by Ecovative is the materials innovation division of Ecovative, a privately held mycotechnology company founded in 2007. Forager develops and commercializes two core biomaterial product lines — AirLoom™ Hides, a farm-grown mycelium leather alternative harvested in its natural form in thicknesses from 0.4mm to 1.3mm and widths up to 1.6m by 30m, and MycoFlex® Foam, a 100% biobased mycelium foam that is antimicrobial, thermally insulating, flame resistant and aerobically compostable, grown in 7-9 days. Both products are produced on the company's proprietary AirMycelium® platform, which directs mycelium fibers to grow into the air and self-assemble in controlled vertical-farm environments, and are differentiated by chrome-free, ZDHC-compliant tanning, lower CO2 and water footprint versus animal hide, and an agricultural-waste feedstock.
The company monetizes primarily through B2B sales of hides and foam to luxury fashion, footwear, textile and consumer-goods brands (named customers include Hermès, Stella McCartney, PVH Corp/Calvin Klein/Tommy Hilfiger, LVMH/Fendi, Pangaia, Vivobarefoot, ECCO Leather, AGI Denim, GOB, and Bestseller), supplemented by a Shopify-powered sample e-commerce storefront selling swatches, A4/A5 hides, half panels and foam sample boxes to designers, students and independent artists via the FFAD (Forager Fashion Art and Design) program. Industrial-scale finishing is delivered through the ECCO Leather tannery partnership, while upstream spawn production is anchored by the Ecovative Spawn & Substrate facilities in the US and Netherlands. Headquartered in Green Island, NY, Forager is led by President Conny Wittke under parent CEO and co-founder Eben Bayer, and is supported by 165+ patents, 1.5 million sq ft of installed farm capacity, and a stated global capacity envelope of 450 million sqm/year through a network of vertical mushroom farms.
Forager by Ecovative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forager by Ecovative
- Legal name
- Forager Apparel Co
- Website
- https://forager.bio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Forager by Ecovative is the materials division of Ecovative that grows mycelium-based AirLoom™ Hides and MycoFlex® Foam using its proprietary AirMycelium® vertical-farm platform, selling sustainable leather and foam alternatives to luxury fashion, footwear and consumer-goods brands worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forager by Ecovative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biobased Materials / Mycelium Biomaterials
- NAICS
- Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252), Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522)
- SIC
- Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Protective & Cushioning Materials (Paper Cushions, Bio-Foams, Mycelium) (IMALAMAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB)
Keywords
Where Forager by Ecovative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Staten Island
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Forager by Ecovative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Mycelium Material Sales: Sale of AirLoom™ hides and MycoFlex® foam materials to fashion brands and manufacturers. Products sold in various formats: sample swatches, A4/A5 hides, half panels, and foam sample boxes. Direct B2B sales to brand partners.
- Licensing & Custom Development: Licensing of proprietary mycelium technology and custom material development partnerships with major brands. Collaborative development of signature mycelium textures and custom specifications for luxury brands.
- Forager Fashion Art and Design (FFAD) Program: Program providing students and independent artists access to Forager's biomaterials through application-based access.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | AirLoom™ Sample Swatches (2x3 inch) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | AirLoom™ A4 Hides |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | AirLoom™ A5 Hides |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | AirLoom™ Half Panel (1/2) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MycoFlex® Foam Sample Box |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Forager by Ecovative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forager by Ecovative manufactures mycelium-based biomaterials for fashion, footwear, and consumer goods brands. Its two core product lines are AirLoom™ Hides (farm-grown mycelium leather alternatives) and MycoFlex® Foam (100% biobased mycelium foam), both produced using the proprietary AirMycelium® platform that directs mycelium fibers to self-assemble in controlled vertical farm environments. The company sells direct to enterprise brand partners through custom material development and also operates an e-commerce sample store.
Product overview
Forager by Ecovative is a mycelium biomaterials company offering two core product lines: AirLoom™ Hides (mycelium-based leather alternatives for fashion, accessories, and footwear) and MycoFlex® Foam (100% biobased mycelium foam for comfort applications). Both products are derived from the company's proprietary AirMycelium® platform that grows mycelium in controlled vertical farm environments. The company also sells sample products (swatches, panels, and foam sample boxes) for designers and brands to evaluate materials before bulk ordering. The portfolio is backed by 165+ patents and 15 years of molecular mycotechnology innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AirLoom™ Hides: High-performance botanical hides with unique, naturally grown textures and customizable colors, finishes and thickness for versatile applications
- MycoFlex® Foam
Products and services
- AirLoom™ Hides Farm-grown mycelium textile that serves as a cow hide alternative, offering naturally grown textures and customizable colors, finishes, and thickness (0.4mm to 1.3mm) for fashion, accessories, footwear, and upholstery applications. Available up to 1.6m wide by 30m long, ZDHC-compliant, chrome and formaldehyde free.
- MycoFlex® Foam 100% biobased pure mycelium foam that is antimicrobial, thermally insulating, flame resistant, and aerobically compostable. Grown in just 7 to 9 days for footwear, upholstery, wellness products, and other comfort applications requiring sustainability.
Quantifiable outcome
- Lower CO2 emissions compared to raw cow hide at commercial scale
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Forager by Ecovative
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Forager by Ecovative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Forager by Ecovative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Patrick McDowellflagshipIndependent designer and Global Design Ambassador for Forager. Creates limited-edition, made-to-order garments using mycelium materials. Debuted at Milan Fashion Week and London Fashion Week. Collaborations include blazers, handbags, and accessories.
- GOBcoreWellness brand partnered to create world's first earplugs made from MycoFlex® foam - fully compostable alternative to traditional petroleum-based earplugs. Addresses environmental impact of single-use earplugs.
- ECCO LeathercoreGlobal tannery part of Danish footwear brand Ecco partnered with Ecovative to develop and commercialize mycelium materials. ECCO Leather handles finishing of AirLoom™ hides, providing extensive finishing options including glossy, matte, iridescent, embossed patterns, and custom colors using traditional craftsmanship and modern chemistry.
- Fashion For Good CooperativecoreIndustry cooperative launched by Ecovative to advance sustainable fashion materials. 20+ vegan brands joined coalition including Pangaia, Reformation, and others.
- AGI DenimcoreVertically integrated denim manufacturer partnered with Ecovative to transform post-consumer waste denim into sustainable architectural and interior design materials using mycelium growth technology.
- PVH Corp (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger)flagshipPVH Corp obtained priority access to Ecovative's mycelium Forager hides for fashion applications. Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands exploring mycelium leather for jackets and accessories.
- BestsellercoreFashion retailer partnered with Ecovative to explore fashion potential of mushrooms and advance vegan leather use in their product lines.
- PangaiacoreSustainability-focused fashion brand partnered to bring mycelium foam to the fashion industry. Collaboration on research and product development for foam applications.
- VivobarefootcoreSustainable footwear brand partnered with Ecovative for mycelium foam research and applications in footwear. One of the first brands to use mycelium as eco-friendly leather alternative.
- Bolt ThreadsminorLicensed intellectual property to Bolt Threads, a competing mycelium textile company, as part of Ecovative's democratization strategy in 2018.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Forager by Ecovative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Desserto: Desserto produces cactus-based leather alternatives serving fashion and automotive upholstery. It is a comparable plant-based leather alternative competing in the broader next-gen leather category.
- Ananas Anam (Piñatex): Ananas Anam produces Piñatex™, a pineapple leaf fiber leather alternative. It targets fashion brands seeking plant-based leather substitutes and competes for similar brand sustainability mandates.
- Keel Labs: Keel Labs produces seaweed-based Kelsun™ fiber as a regenerative textile alternative. Comparable as an emerging bio-based fiber/textile material targeting sustainable fashion brands.
- Natural Fiber Welding: Natural Fiber Welding produces Mirum®, a plant-based, plastic-free leather alternative. Comparable as a next-gen sustainable leather competitor pursuing similar luxury and footwear brand partnerships.
- Polybion: Polybion produces Celium™, a bacterial cellulose bio-material for fashion and consumer goods. Comparable as a fermentation-based bio-material company targeting luxury and premium applications.
- Beyond Leather Materials: Beyond Leather Materials (formerly Beyond Surface Technologies) develops apple-based and other plant-based leather alternatives. Comparable as a bio-based leather alternative targeting fashion brands.
Direct peers
- Bolt Threads: Bolt Threads produces mycelium-based leather (Mylo™) for fashion and footwear, and notably licensed Forager's parent Ecovative's IP in 2018 before acquiring MycoWorks. It is the most directly comparable competitor in bio-leather materials serving luxury brands.
- MycoWorks: MycoWorks pioneered Reishi™, a fine mycelium leather alternative serving luxury fashion houses (Hermès, Ligne Roset). It merged into the Bolt Threads family but operates as a direct competitor to Forager in mycelium hide materials.
- Spiber: Spiber produces Brewed Protein™, a bio-fermented protein fiber used in apparel and footwear partnerships (Goldwin, The North Face Japan). It is a direct comparable as a bio-engineered fiber/textile material targeting luxury fashion and footwear.
- Modern Meadow: Modern Meadow develops bio-based leather and protein materials (now operating as BioFabbrica). It competes with Forager in next-gen sustainable leather alternatives for fashion and accessories applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forager by Ecovative social profiles
Digital presenceForager by Ecovative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forager by Ecovative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Forager by Ecovative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forager by Ecovative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Forager by Ecovative
What does Forager by Ecovative do?
Forager by Ecovative manufactures mycelium-based biomaterials for fashion, footwear, and consumer goods brands. Its two core product lines are AirLoom™ Hides (farm-grown mycelium leather alternatives) and MycoFlex® Foam (100% biobased mycelium foam), both produced using the proprietary AirMycelium® platform that directs mycelium fibers to self-assemble in controlled vertical farm environments. The company sells direct to enterprise brand partners through custom material development and also operates an e-commerce sample store.
Is Forager by Ecovative a public or private company?
Forager by Ecovative is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Forager by Ecovative founded?
Forager by Ecovative was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Forager by Ecovative based?
Forager by Ecovative is headquartered in Staten Island, United States, in the North America region.
How does Forager by Ecovative make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Mycelium Material Sales are the primary driver. The others are licensing & Custom Development and forager Fashion Art and Design (FFAD) Program.
Who are Forager by Ecovative's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Desserto, Ananas Anam (Piñatex), Keel Labs, Natural Fiber Welding, Polybion and Beyond Leather Materials. Direct peers are Bolt Threads, MycoWorks, Spiber and Modern Meadow.
Does Forager by Ecovative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forager by Ecovative.
What industry is Forager by Ecovative in?
Forager by Ecovative's product category is Biobased Materials / Mycelium Biomaterials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAMAH, Sustainable Protective & Cushioning Materials (Paper Cushions, Bio-Foams, Mycelium), with a secondary code of IMALAMAB, Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films). Its NAICS code is 3252 and its SIC code is 2820.