Impact statement

This demo demonstrates how textile-like fungal materials can be fabricated to integrate multiple material qualities, such as padding, support and flexibility, within a single continuous piece. Through incorporating biofabrication with orthopedic wearable concepts, this work proposes pathways for fungal textiles to support both human wellbeing and sustainable product lifecycles.

Fungal textiles background

Fungal textiles are biofabricated sheet materials derived from grown mycelium or processed fungal biomass. They are increasingly explored as alternatives to synthetic and animal-based textiles due to their renewable origins and unique material properties (Karana et al. Reference Karana, Blauwhoff, Hultink and Camere2018; Manan et al. Reference Manan, Ullah, Ul-Islam, Atta and Yang2021). Most existing fungal textile applications, however, rely on materially uniform sheets.

Wearable systems that interface closely with the body often require localized variation, such as areas of increased padding, flexibility or structural reinforcement (Barbarioli Reference Barbarioli2001). This work builds on prior investigations into process-tuning fungal textiles to create differentiated structural qualities within a single material system (Fang et al. Reference Fang, Parisi, Karana, Mateus, Patrocinio and Leonor2026b). Beyond layering separate materials, localized variation is achieved through controlled growth conditions and post-processing steps. The present demonstration focuses on making these variations physically legible and situating them within an orthopedic garment context.

Example application of the system

The demonstration presents a modular orthopedic wearable system for the hand and wrist that uses differentiated fungal textile sheets as adaptable structural components (Figure 1). Rather than treating the material as a uniform surface, the system organizes fungal textiles into configurable zones of support, padding and flexibility. Variation is achieved through patterned compression and controlled processing, enabling localized structural differentiation within a continuous sheet (Fang et al. Reference Fang, Parisi, Karana, Mateus, Patrocinio and Leonor2026b).

Figure 1.

Fungal textile system and possibilities.

The process resulted in prototypes of biofabricated orthopedic garments for the hand and wrist region and a set of material samples fabricated with fungal textiles. By integrating two fabrication pathways, cultivated mycelium growth and mycelium pulp derived from fruiting bodies, with limited post-processing techniques, we investigated how differentiated properties can emerge within a single textile. This approach emphasizes the intrinsic qualities of the source materials while reducing the need for composite layering and assembly (Fang et al. Reference Fang, Parisi, Karana, Mateus, Patrocinio and Leonor2026b).

Modular material logic

The system operates across three interconnected levels:

1. 1. Material Level: A set of material samples with different qualities (Figure 2 ), demonstrating surface and properties differences (e.g., smoothness, flexibility, padding) resulting from different processes (e.g., growing in liquid medium or processing fruiting bodies) and fungal strains (e.g., white button mushrooms, bracket fungi, S. commune).

2. 2. Pattern Level: A set of material samples showing different textural patterning (Figure 3 ), showing designed surface geometries that modify support, malleability and pressure distribution.

3. 3. Garment-Level: One or more prototypes of orthopedic garments (Figure 4 ), illustrating how the material sheets can be integrated within wearable orthopedic designs (A general wrist wrap, An ulnar deviation wrap, A combined thumb–wrist support)

Figure 2.

From left to right: 1.1 using fruiting bodies of white button mushrooms; 1.2 using fruiting bodies of bracket fungi; 1.3 from S. commune grown mycelium.

Figure 3.

Four pattern samples. 2.1: Cluster; 2.2: Topography; 2.3 Merge; 2.4 Voronoi.

Figure 4.

Three concept forms. 3.1: Wrist wrap; 3.2: Ulnar deviation wrap; 3.3 Thumb and wrist wrap.

All these materials are fabricated with fungal textiles developed by the authors. Each configuration uses the same material system but arranges material or structural zones differently depending on coverage and support needs. This illustrates how a single fabrication logic can generate multiple assistive possibilities.

Technical setup

At the exhibit, the audience will observe a display case showcasing the innovative use of fungal textiles in orthopedic garments. Visitors will be presented with several one or more wearable prototypes mounted on hand mannequins, illustrating the potential applications of these materials and demonstrating its ergonomic shaping (Figure 5).

Figure 5.

Example setup.

The exhibit can make use of detailed photography and visualizations that explain the making process (Fang et al. Reference Fang, Parisi, Karana, Mateus, Patrocinio and Leonor2026b), findings from user testing and interactions (Fang et al. Reference Fang, Karana and Parisi2026a). These visual aids will provide insights into the design process and the properties of fungal textiles. Depending on the available space and staffing, the exhibit could also include earlier prototypes or other exploration pathways that informed the final iteration. This retrospective view will allow the audience to appreciate the evolution of the design and understand the research and development efforts behind the project.

The exhibit setup includes:

• • One or more (maximum three) hand and forearm mannequins fitted with concept orthopedic garments.

• • Physical material samples representing different processing pathways and material qualities.

• • Photographic and diagrammatic documentation of fabrication stages and user evaluation insights.

No fabrication occurs on site; all materials are pre-grown and stabilized. With this experience, the audience will gain a comprehensive and multi-sensory understanding of how fungal textiles can be used to create sustainable, customizable and comfortable orthopedic garments.