MILAN — It turns out, mixed into a bio-composite with hemp fibers, mycelium transforms into a material capable of creating stunning, sculptural works of art.

When Netherlands-based husband-and-wife-duo Bart Schilder, a former product development manager at design firm Moooi, and former school teacher Marije Schilder started Aifunghi in 2024, the aim was to create “seductive” furniture.

In their second season, the artful potential of MBC, the mycelium composite they use as a primary component of their pieces, was evidenced at premier design event 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen June 10 to 12. Named Outspoken, the collection of seven new pieces marked the first time they ever worked with collaborators: French-born ceramicist Elisa Uberti and Flemish visual artist Vito Boox.

Uberti created the Eryngi, a series of lamps available as suspended, table, and floor versions, which resulted in a poetic collection that imitates organic forms. For Uberti, it was a rare occasion to stray from ceramic clay. “It’s always stimulating for me to imagine pieces in a material other than ceramics. Aifunghi’s research around a mycelium-based material, both innovative and mindful of resources, resonates with my sensitivity for objects in which materiality plays an essential role,” she said.

Aifunghi’s first collection included the Venosa lounge chair and Campinio lamps and was a testament to MBC’s potential, commented Marije, who added that it’s distinguished spongy nature.

“The material starts as loose fibers and later becomes spongy during growth. It ends up quite hard, with mineral paint used to improve resilience,” she added.

Boox’s work was also a process of discovery. For the collection, he explored the intersection of digital design and traditional craftsmanship with four new pieces, among them a sculptural lighting model called the Marcella chandelier and the Tremella mirror collection.

“The process embodies a raw honesty that excites me about the future of objects and design — truly grown in every sense,” he said of working with MBC.

The Schilders believe they may be among the first high-end design brands using mycelium composite for long-lasting consumer products at scale. This year, they started incorporating eco-conscious, luxury fabrics from Kvadrat and Dedar Milano into their collections. Bart’s design background, having spent almost 14 years at Moooi, has helped the firm propel their creative vision on a global stage.

Elsewhere in design, biotech company MycoWorks has been positioning Reishi, its own material grown from mycelium, as a high-end design material. In 2024, it teamed up with Paris-based design agency Paragone for a collection of interior design objects at Design Miami Paris, featuring works by Sophie Dries, Anna Le Corno, Josephine Fossey, Pauline Guerrier, Marion Mailaender, Fanny Perrier and Sarah Valente.

In terms of sales, the duo sees Aifunghi’s creations in-line with high-end luxury, both in terms of quality and pricing, Bart said, adding that their collections are available to business-to-business clients and consumers in shops and online.

“The pieces we’ve now made are really more influenced by aesthetic and by expression.…It’s definitely in line with high-end luxury,” he said.