lies mertens x mycanova®

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The first bag collection made with Belgian upcycled mycelium, a next-gen vegan leather made with the root-like system of mushrooms.

We're excited to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Lies Mertens with a first bag collection in MycaNova®. MycaNova® is a next-gen vegan leather made with mycelium, the root-like system of mushrooms. After five years of experimenting to link our recognisable aesthetic with a fair and transparent manufacturing process, we take our mission to the next level through this collaboration with MycaNova®

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What is MycaNova®?

MycaNova® is a product of Citribel, a Belgian company specialised in the production of citric acid. Citribel uses sugar molasses, a residual product from the nearby sugar factory in Tienen, and ferments it into citric acid, during which mycelium is formed. Until a few years ago, mycelium was considered a waste product. Today, it is dried and ground into powder which, combined with binding agents and backing materials, becomes a vegan leather alternative.

MycaNova® is elastic yet sturdy, rain and scratch resistant and tactile. In every square meter of MycaNova®, 20 to 60 grams of plastic is replaced with mycelium. We are proud to be the first Belgian brand to launch a product made from this innovative Belgian biomaterial.

“We strongly believe in the use of leather as a residual product from the meat industry. However, given that this industry has a large environmental impact, it is important to start focusing on innovative and high-quality alternatives. This is how our collaboration with MycaNova® started”

— Lies MertensIn short, four elements drove our choice for MycaNova®

— 1. MycaNova® is a Belgian innovation, developed and made in Europe, which keeps the production chain as short as possible. 

— 2. MycaNova® is made with mycelium, a co-product of the production of citric acid, and is manufactured in existing industrial infrastructures. Significant environmental costs such as new buildings, machinery, and additional CO2 emissions are avoided because of this. 

— 3. MycaNova® is equivalent in quality and sensory experience to animal leather. It is elastic, sturdy, rain-resistant, and scratch-resistant.

— 4. MycaNova® is transparent about the composition of the material and the concerns still to tackle.

Meet Lies, the protagonist of our collection in MycaNova®.

As the first bag to be executed in the innovative vegan leather MycaNova®, Lies embodies the values and ambitions Lies Mertens bears for her brand. The bag plays with clean volumes as per usual, however has a novel organic and soft feel to it. When unfolded, it features a spacious main compartment alongside extra smaller pockets to keep your essentials organised. The adjustable shoulder strap provides maximum comfort and versatility. In short, the Lies materialises the longing for purity and integrity that is so very Lies Mertens.

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 Lies is available in Fungi and Black MycaNova® 495,—

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Lies also comes in a smaller variant, Lies mini. Unfolded, it features one main compartment and two side pockets for maximum organisation. An adjustable shoulder strap allows for superior comfort and adaptation.

Lies mini is available in Fungi and Black MycaNova® 375,—

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Discover our exclusive capsule of Lies bags.

To celebrate the launch of our first bag collection in MycaNova®, we present a limited edition of Lies bags. Inspired by the network of mycelium, Lies designed unique stitch patterns. The front is embroidered by hand by Lies Mertens in our atelier in Antwerp.

Limited to 10 unique pieces.
Made on demand & by hand with a delivery time of 6 weeks.

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The exclusive capsule edition is available in Fungi and Black MycaNova® 850,—

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In collaboration with MycaNova®

Supported by Stad Antwerpen