Biomaterials company Bolt Threads has announced plans to become a public company listed on the Nasdaq through a SPAC agreement.

Dan Widmaier - Image courtesy of Ashley Batz for Bolt Threads

Investments & Finance

Bolt Threads Enters $250 Million SPAC Agreement to Go Public on Nasdaq with Sustainable Biomaterials

Biomaterials company Bolt Threads has announced it will become a public company listed on the Nasdaq through a SPAC agreement that values the company (Bolt Threads) at $250 million.  A pioneer in biomaterials with two sustainable products in the market, Mylo™ and b-silk™, the company will merge with Golden Arrow Merger Corp. (Nasdaq: GAMC). After the closing of the deal, the combined company will be named “Bolt Projects Holdings, Inc.” and is expected to remain listed on Nasdaq under “BSLK”. Dan Widmaier, founder and CEO of Bolt Threads, will lead the new company.  Mylo bag ©Bolt Threads Distributing biomaterials According to the statement, the concurrent financing deals are expected to provide at least $35 million of gross proceeds to the company, including fully committed common stock PIPE of up …

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Frayme Mylo bag in white

© Stella McCartney

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Stella McCartney Presents New White Edition of Frayme Mylo Bag at Paris Fashion Week

Stella McCartney has launched a new limited edition version of her Frayme Mylo bag, in white instead of black. The bag is made from Mylo (Bolt Threads’ mycelium-based leather alternative), and is based on the design of McCartney’s classic Falabella bag. It has just been exhibited at the designer’s AW23 runway show at Paris Fashion Week, marking the first time Mylo has been available in a colour other than black. The event was held at Paris’ oldest equestrian stables, with models walking the runway alongside rescued ponies. “It’s an honor to continue our long and storied relationship with the Stella team to establish Mylo, and material innovation, as the future of fashion,” said Bolt Threads on LinkedIn. “Embodiment of a vision” The original black Frayme …

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Mylo Mushroom Leather

©Tsuchiya Kaban

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Tsuchiya Kaban Becomes First Japanese Brand to Debut Bolt Threads’ Mylo Mushroom Leather

Biotech startup Bolt Threads, which makes the mycelium-based leather known as Mylo, announces a new partnership with Japanese artisan leather brands Tsuchiya Kaban and Objcts.io.  Through the partnership, Tsuchiya and Objcts are launching three new products crafted with Mylo – including a Wallet Bag,  iPhone Case, and L Zip Purse. Alt-leather goods Available in limited quantities from Dec. 15th – Dec. 31st, the new lineup includes:  Wallet Bag – The back side and shoulder straps are made of “Tough Guard” synthetic leather, while the interior and exterior pockets are crafted with Mylo. According to Objcts, this bag is an animal-free product that functions as a smartphone pouch and wallet.  iPhone cases – Made of 50% recycled plastic material, including Mylo material on the back. Features …

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mylo-mushroom-leather-Bolt Threads

©Bolt Threads

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Bolt Threads and Ginkgo Bioworks Join Forces to Boost Production of Mylo Mushroom Leather

Materials solutions company Bolt Threads announces a new multi-project collaboration with biotech firm Ginkgo Bioworks to increase the efficiency and performance of Bolt’s portfolio, and to develop novel biomaterial proteins. The companies’ first project will focus on optimizing production of Bolt’s Mylo™ leather alternative. Made from mycelium, the underground root structures of mushrooms, Mylo is an animal-free and sustainable “unleather: that does not require livestock or petroleum inputs. During Bolt’s production process, the mycelium is grown in a foamy layer that can be harvested, dyed and transformed into fully customizable sheets. Mylo can then be used to make a wide range of products such as handbags, footwear, wallets, and phone cases. Mylo is already been utilized in handbags and accessories by top fashion houses such …

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Stella McCartney launches sustainability fund

© Stella McCartney

Cosmetics & Bodycare

“It’s a Game Changer” Says Stella McCartney On Her New Conscious Beauty Brand STELLA

Stella McCartney has teamed up with the LVMH beauty division to develop the ‘conscious luxury’ beauty brand STELLA by Stella McCartney, marking the third big announcement from the ethically minded fashion designer this year. A $200 million sustainability fund was launched earlier this month as a result of a collaboration between Stella McCartney and the venture capital firm Collaborative Fund. The sustainability-focused designer also recently collaborated with Bolt Threads — the first company that received investment from the sustainability fund — to develop the first commercially available luxury bag made from mushroom leather. Stella X LVMH LVMH is a French luxury company that owns several high fashion labels, including Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior. The successful collaboration with LVMH started in 2019 when the …

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Stella McCartney launches sustainability fund

© Stella McCartney

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Stella McCartney Helps to Launch $200M Sustainability Fund

Stella McCartney has joined forces with venture capital firm Collaborative Fund to launch a sustainability fund worth $200 million. Known as the SOS fund, it is aimed at “cleaner businesses, founders and sustainable solutions”. This includes companies in the fields of decarbonisation, food and agriculture, and materials solutions. Those at Series A or B level will be the main focus. Bolt Threads partnership According to McCartney, the SOS fund has already invested in Bolt Threads, maker of Mylo mushroom leather. The fashion designer has been partnering with the company for some time, showcasing a top and trousers made with Mylo early last year. In October, McCartney presented a mushroom leather bag — based on the design of her classic Falabella bag — at Paris Fashion …

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© GANNI

Leather Alternatives

Denmark’s GANNI Launches Accessories Made With Mylo Mushroom Leather

Denmark’s GANNI has launched a range of saddlebags and wallets made with Bolt Threads’ Mylo™ mushroom leather. The launch is part of GANNI’s commitment to phase out virgin animal leather by 2023. Previously, GANNI had struggled to find a leather alternative that was plastic-free and did not compromise on quality. But following rigorous testing, the company has determined that Mylo meets its standards for performance and durability. The new products have a black exterior, plus a green and black lining with a mushroom-inspired print. They will be exhibited at Copenhagen’s Global Fashion Summit on June 7-8, and will soon be available to purchase at GANNI’s flagship store in the city. The brand hopes to launch more products made with Mylo in the first quarter of …

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Bag made with Mylo

© Stella McCartney

Fungi, Mushrooms & Mycelium

Stella McCartney to Launch “First Ever” Commercial Luxury Bag Made With Mylo Mushroom Leather

Fashion house Stella McCartney has announced that the Frayme Mylo, said to be the first ever luxury bag made with Mylo mushroom leather, will launch commercially later this year. The bag was first showcased last October at Paris Fashion Week, and is based on the design of Stella McCartney’s classic Falabella bag. The material used, Mylo, is a leather alternative made by material solutions company Bolt Threads using mycelium (the root structure of mushrooms). Mushroom-inspired summer collection Stella McCartney also recently unveiled an entire collection inspired by mushrooms. The Spring/Summer 2022 collection features a combination of bright and earthy tones, with embellishments such as pleats and cutouts. While most of the garments are vegan, some use silk, though the brand has announced plans to switch …

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Biomaterials company Bolt Threads has announced plans to become a public company listed on the Nasdaq through a SPAC agreement.

Dan Widmaier - Image courtesy of Ashley Batz for Bolt Threads

Interviews

Bolt Threads: “Working to Design More Sustainable Versions of the Materials People Already Know and Love”

Bolt Threads shot to fame in the fashion world with its innovative alt leather product Mylo, the “unleather” gloriously made from mycelium fungal structures, and recently received a prestigious vegan certification. “We at Bolt Threads are proud to be leading the movement to create these necessary alternatives to traditional materials using advanced science and bio-based solutions.” Following a recently formed consortium of iconic companies including Adidas, Kering, Lululemon, and Stella McCartney, Mylo mushroom unleather continues to hit the shelves and catwalks globally with many more to be announced soon. As Bolt Threads looks to expand and scale the reach of Mylo, the company has announced a new collaboration with fashion house Ganni to create Mylo-based products as part of a 2022 collection, with Ganni committing …

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Mylo Finished Sheets_Dan Widmaier_002_Courtesy of Heller-Leder

Mylo Finished Sheets, image Courtesy of Heller-Leder

Leather Alternatives

World Leading Leather Tannery’s Partnership With Bolt Threads Marks Its First Foray Into Alt Leather in 100 Years

Bolt Threads, which produces the famous Mylo mushroom leather, is set to upscale with the help of conventional tannery Heller-Leder, an industry leader that works with notable companies such as Porsche and furniture company Rolf Bennz. The collaboration with Bolt Threads marks the first time the tannery has worked with a material other than conventional leather. According to Bolt Threads, Heller-Leder’s willingness to work with Mylo is a testament to the material’s quality, functionality, and durability. The company claims these features are on par with conventional leather. Bolt Threads is increasing production to gear up for the first commercial launches of Mylo, which will take place next year in collaboration with Stella McCartney, lululemon, and adidas Earlier this month, Stella McCartney debuted a bag made …

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Bolt Threads Mylo

© Bolt Threads

Textiles

Bolt Threads’ Mushroom “UnLeather” Mylo Awarded Prestigious Vegan Certification

Eurofins | Chem-MAP announces that Bolt Threads‘ innovative plant-based material Mylo Unleather has been verified as a vegan material following the successful completion of the Eurofins Vegan Verification Programme, which involves the analysis of all inputs for the presence of animal DNA. Mylo is one of the first vegan new materials to receive this verification. “A planet of 10 billion people cannot live like a planet of 1 billion people and in our resource-constrained world, now is the time for meaningful innovation” Mylo looks and feels like animal leather and as such is currently used by world-leading brands such as adidas, Stella McCartney, lululemon and Kering. Created from mycelium – the underground root structure of fungi – the material is certified bio-based and is developed …

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LULULEMON Bolt Threads

©Lulemon

Textiles

Lululemon Collaborates With Bolt Threads For Mushroom-Based Yoga Accessories

Canadian premium athletic retailer Lululemon has become the latest brand to launch products made with Mylo, an alternative leather made from mycelium – the branching root network of fungus. Through its partnership with US biotechnology company and Mylo producers, Bolt Threads, Lululemon has unveiled a new yoga collection featuring a woven yoga mat and two bags, a yoga bag and a duffel bag. The products will be available for purchase in early 2022. The sportswear company indicated it would be producing new items with the mycelium-based material in October after becoming a member of Bolt Threads’ Mylo Consortium. Lululemon joins the likes of Adidas, Kering (the fashion house behind brands like Balenciaga, Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Bottega Veneta) and Stella McCartney in committing to using …

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