Three Material Innovators Unite on Debut Biobased Mash Up Concept Shoe

The Korvaa Consortium has unveiled the first-ever shoe made from a “novel combination” of mycelium, bacterial nanocellulose and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).
 
The experimental collaboration explores the design and functionalities of novel, bio-based materials and was created in partnership with scientists, designers and artists to document the development of consumer products made exclusively from biologically derived materials.

Its concept shoe brought three biomaterial technologies together—Modern Synthesis, Ecovative and Ourobio—for the first time, “mirroring” nature’s approach to solve design challenges through biologically derived material selection.
 
The Korvaa project stepped beyond traditional manufacturing to demonstrate “what’s possible when science, design and storytelling converge.” While footwear traditionally requires some 30 distinct inputs, many of which are synthetic, the Korvaa shoe was made with five material components.
 
Modern Synthesis made the shoe’s upper. The London-based company leverages material science to transform nanocellulose (aka a natural byproduct of fermentation) into functional textiles and coatings.

“By combining materials the way nature does—not by adding more, but by choosing better—we’re creating radical design possibilities for the industry,” Jen Keane, co-founder and CEO of Modern Synthesis said. “This unlocks unparalleled creative freedom, introducing novel functionalities and forms that simply couldn’t be achieved through conventional means. We’ve developed an artefact that is a tangible blueprint for the future of manufacturing.”

Ourobio 3D-printed the scaffold for the shoe’s base. The New York-based materials science company uses engineered microorganisms to turn industrial byproducts into low-footprint additives for the chemicals, materials and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries. It develops PHAs, a class of bio-based, biodegradable polyesters that replace petrochemical plastics. Ecovative grew the shoe’s sole in seven days, using solid state fermentation to cultivate mycelium through the PHA scaffold. For the biotechnology company, the shoe demonstrates what becomes possible when three distinct biological processes work together.

“Each material was chosen for what it does best—and together they show that biology can manufacture complex products that traditionally require dozens of synthetic inputs,” said Eben Bayer, co-founder and CEO of Ecovative. Collaboration like this is how we grow the material support system for a planet that works in harmony with humans.”

Photino Science Communications documented the collaboration. The Finnish science communication company that focuses on synthetic biology had “captured the journey” to educate and inspire wider industry adoption.
 
“The first step is developing the technology, the second step is getting the story out there,” Nina Pulkkis, documentary and production lead at Photino, said. “Documenting this project from the beginning reveals the immense potential that arises when we align nature’s intelligence with human innovation—this is the kind of collaboration that makes you want to be part of the change.”

The shoe was constructed using traditional string-lasting techniques by specialists in footwear design and manufacturing. The laces and support lining are made from cotton and lyocell. It was showcased at the Future Fabrics Expo in London last week within the show’s Footwear Hub. The process of creating the shoe will be shared with the public as well. A full-length documentary entitled “Planet of the Microbe” is expected to debut at a film festival later this year.