WHAT IF WE COULD GROW A SHOEBOX OUT OF MUSHROOMS? SOUNDS A LITTLE WEIRD, BUT LET US EXPLAIN...

At Gravitate, we're always looking for new ways to connect with the natural world. That curiosity goes beyond the experiences we create, to the materials we use and the way things are made.

Last weekend, we took 70 people into the the middle of nowhere for our latest Gravitate Pin Drop with Vivobarefoot and Walk This Way, at Vivo's Nature Home, Barley Wood. 

But the shoes waiting for everyone came in something a little different: shoeboxes grown from fungi.

Vivo make shoes designed to reconnect us with the ground beneath our feet. We wanted to take that idea a step further by growing the packaging from natural materials, too. So, ahead of the event, we headed to Leicester to meet the team at Magical Mushroom Company and see how it's done.

First, a little about fungi...

The secret ingredient isn't actually the mushroom itself. It's something called mycelium. Mycelium is the network of tiny, thread-like structures that forms the root system of fungi. It spreads through soil and organic matter, helping fungi break down natural materials and absorb nutrients.

It also has another interesting property: as it grows, mycelium naturally binds materials together. This makes it possible to create everything from packaging to furniture and building materials.

So, how do you grow a shoebox?

At Magical Mushroom Company, mycelium is combined with agricultural by-products that would otherwise go to waste. The mixture is packed into specially designed moulds. As the mycelium grows, it binds everything together, gradually taking the shape of the mould. Once formed, the material is dried to stop the growing process, leaving a lightweight, water-resistant structure.

Seven days later, you've got yourself a shoebox. For our Pin Drop, the team created bespoke moulds with laser-engraved lids featuring our Dream State artwork.

With the boxes ready, it was time to take them out of the factory and into the field.
70 people arrived to find their Vivo shoes waiting inside packaging grown from fungi.

Beyond looking pretty cool, mycelium packaging offers an alternative to conventional plastic-based protective packaging. It's lightweight, strong, water-resistant and can biodegrade under suitable conditions. A pretty interesting example of how natural materials could change the way we think about everyday things.