MYKOS
The Color/Dyes Team
Overview
Project Summary & Research Focus
The Coloring Mycelium Team will be exploring natural methods of adding color and texture to mycelium materials. They aim to extract organic dyes from sources like beets and mushrooms, introduce color through bacteria and substrate infusion, and test traditional
textile dyeing methods on mycelium leather. Additionally, they will experiment with surface finishes such as wool flocking, sand, and soil textures to enhance the aesthetic appeal of mycelium bricks and leather.
Our Goals
Introduce color to mycelium materials using natural methods, such as organic dyes and endogenous bacteria.
01
Try dyeing mycelium leather with dye mushrooms (lobster mushrooms, inky cap mushrooms) using the typical textile dyeing method outlined in the mushroom color atlas.
02
Enhance aesthetic appeal of mycelium bricks and leather.
03
Our Conclusions
My experiment focused on using organic water-based dyes extracted from beets, spinach and oranges to enhance the beauty of mycelium bricks. I dyed both pressed and unpressed brick. Owing to brick permeability, the dye gets absorbed by the brick after a few days. Also, baking seemed to remove the brightness of the natural color. But if I sealed the color with the oil/wax or agave sealants, the color stability increased.
Yash Rathi
Don't be afraid to test new things and embrace when you don't know the outcome. I was testing to see if mycelium leather can be dyed using dyer mushrooms and was able to successfully color mycelium leather with lobster mushrooms! I found the most success when making the dye bath at a higher pH (pH 10) as this developed a deeper pink color that transferred strongly onto the mycelium leather.
Lilly Tisza
I also tried introducing the dyes during substrate growth to see if it would be absorbed into the mycelial cells and replicated throughout the substrate. However, this didn't happen and the mycelial threads grew throughout as usual, with white hyphae. I concluded that the best way to enhance the aesthetics of bricks is to dye it on the outside and then coat and seal it.
Yash Rathi
For my coloring experiments I found that while the mycelium leather was soaking in the alum mixture, its texture changed to a crunchier firmer texture. I am curious to experiment further possibly without the use of alum mordant to see the texture differences on the dyed mycelium leather. I am also curious as to how the dye absorption would change if I omit the alum. Overall, it is possible to successfully color mycelium leather with dyer mushrooms used for textiles, when using the methodology outlined in the Mushroom Color Atlas.
Lilly Tisza
Our Research Team
Yash Rathi
4th year, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Introduced water-soluble organic dyes to the mycelium brick to improve aesthetics, as well as color dyes into the mycelium brick by adding them to the substrate, which helps the mycelium take in the dye while growing and color itself. Also painted the finished bricks with dye to improve their aesthetics. Used endogenous bacteria to introduce color to mycelium.
Lilly Szomor Tisza
3rd year, Sustainable Environmental Design and Design
Conducted experiments focused on developing aesthetic finishes for mycelium-based materials. Used the Mushroom Color Atlas to explore natural dyeing techniques on mycelium leather, working with species like lobster mushroom. Also experimented with wool flocking to create a soft, velvety surface on both mycelium leather and mycelium panels. Lastly, tested the use of natural materials such as sand and soil to texture the surface of
mycelium bricks, and refined the finishes using sandpaper to achieve smoother, more uniform results.