# Bio-Fabricated Leather-Like Materials Ephea Uma from SQIM is Grown and Crafted in Italy By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2026-05-19 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ephea-uma References: [vegconomist](https://vegconomist.com/materials/mycelium-moves-luxury-accessories-sqim-launches-ephea-uma/) & [ephea.bio](https://ephea.bio/ephea_uma/)  Ephea Uma has been launched by SQIM as a [mycelium-based material](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycelium-jacket) for the luxury accessories market to offer a more [sustainable alternative to leather](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leather-alternative-1) without sacrificing quality, performance or feel. The material is grown rather than manufactured thanks to its [mycelium composition](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/engineered-living-materials) and features a low-impact profile that could be used in place of leather or a variety of other materials. The cruelty-free material is fully traceable and drastically cuts the amount of water and land required, while also cutting CO₂ impact when compared to conventional leather. Ephea Uma from SQIM is also capable of being dyed virtually any color to provide customers with the ability to achieve a near-infinite number of shades. The material's versatility means it could be used in a wide number of fashion applications including with accessories, but also wearable garments. Image Credit: SQIM ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 45% | Activity: 44% | Freshness: 78% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Mycelium-based Luxury Materials:** A cultivated fungal matrix that mimics leather offers high-end tactile qualities while substantially lowering environmental inputs compared with animal hides. - **Plant-compatible Color Customization:** Near-infinite dyeability of bio-fabricated substrates enables on-demand color personalization without relying on traditional, pollutive tanning chemistries. - **Traceable Low-impact Supply Chains:** Fully traceable growth-to-garment production models reduce water, land and CO₂ footprints while increasing provenance transparency for conscious consumers. ### Who This Affects Most - **Luxury Fashion Accessories:** High-touch goods such as handbags and wallets can leverage cruelty-free, high-performance mycelium materials to meet premium aesthetic and sustainability expectations. - **Sustainable Footwear Manufacturing:** Boots and shoes could integrate bio-fabricated leather analogues to decrease reliance on animal leather and simplify end-of-life considerations. - **Automotive Interior Design:** Vehicle cabins stand to benefit from durable, dyeable mycelium surfaces that combine upscale look-and-feel with a smaller environmental footprint. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Plant-Based Leather Smartwatch Bands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reclassic-apple-watch-band.md) - [Mushroom-Infused Skincare Serums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycelium-glow-brightening-serum.md) - [Mycelium Leather Bags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/myco-travel-pouch.md) - [Cruelty-Free Leather Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crueltyfree-leather-alternative.md) - [Video Game-Inspired Boots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/super-mario-bros-boots.md) - [Upcycled Mycelium Clothing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycelium-clothing.md) - [Ready-to-Wear Biomaterial Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deadwood-studios-ss24.md) - [Plant-Based Feather Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stella-mccartney-spring-summer-2026.md) - [Chic Outerwear Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dover-street-markets.md)