Alternatives to Mushrooms and Leather: The History of Romanian Traditional Materials, Amadou and the Iceman
We explore the history of humans using mushrooms as a leather alternative.
What is "Amadou," a traditional Romanian material?
Amadou, a traditional mushroom-derived leather alternative from Romania, is a technique passed down by artisans for hundreds of years and used for items such as hats and wallets. The photo shows a sample obtained from a Romanian workshop that has been producing it for over 150 years.
This material is made from tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius), a hard mushroom that grows on fallen beech trees. Tinder fungus grows inside the tree, forming shelf-like caps several centimeters wide on the trunk. These caps are harvested, thinly shaved, cut into long strips, and then pounded with a wooden mallet to create wide, felt-like sheets.
Although mushroom materials have recently gained attention as leather alternatives, their history is very old, rooted in Romanian tradition.
The Iceman and Mushrooms
The relationship between tinder fungus and humans dates back to the Neolithic period.
In 1991, the approximately 5,300-year-old mummy known as "Ötzi the Iceman," discovered in an Alpine glacier, had a leather pouch tied around his waist containing loosened tinder fungus fibers and a flint.
In Europe, tinder fungus fibers were traditionally used as tinder for flint. In fact, the scientific name for tinder fungus, "Fomes," means "tinder." In Japan, it is known among the Ainu as "hokuchitake" (tinder mushroom), indicating that mushrooms have been widely used for purposes other than food.
The mycelium of mushrooms is extremely fine, burns easily, and yet does not burn out quickly, making it ideal tinder. To use amadou as tinder, it requires a process of soaking it in sodium carbonate, pounding it, and drying it. If it was used as tinder after such a complex process, it is highly plausible that amadou was also used as a fabric.
Leather products used by the Iceman
It is also known that the Iceman wore various leather products from different animals.
His shoelaces were made of cowhide, his fur coat and loincloth of sheepskin, and his leggings of goatskin. DNA analysis has revealed that these animals were already domesticated. Additionally, his hat was made of brown bear hide, and his quiver of roe deer hide.
Harmony with nature and a sustainable future
From ancient times, humans have used mushrooms and leather to survive harsh environments.
"Hitoe® Fold Aria -Mushroom-" is a product that combines traditional materials like mushrooms and leather with modern environmental consciousness.
This product symbolizes a step towards a sustainable future, just as our ancestors coexisted with nature.
(Text by Hirotaka Sato | SYRINX CEO & Designer)
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