Former Hermès chief executive joins MycoWorks
A former chief executive of Parisian luxury goods house Hermès, Patrick Thomas, recently announced that he has joined the board of California-based biomaterials startup MycoWorks, which specialises in mycelium materials.
The startup’s Reishi-branded technology was previously linked to Hermès back in March, but Mr Thomas has reportedly had no direct involvement with the brand since stepping down from his role there in 2014.
The businessman told Vogue Business that he believes there will be an additional category reserved for mycelium-derived (and other non-animal) materials going forward, “particularly [one made up of] young women who don’t want to eat meat”.
Mr Thomas said that the aforementioned consumer group, which he believes already exists, could be responsible for growing this category to at least 10% of the luxury goods industry over the next 20 years.
