Abstract
This study investigates the potential of knitted textiles as both substrate and three-dimensional scaffold for mycofabrication, contributing to the development of textile templating approaches in biofabrication. While textiles are commonly used as reinforcement in mycelium-based composites, their role as active, designable interfaces for growth remains underexplored. Two experimental approaches using Ganoderma lucidum were conducted: seeding-based inoculation and liquid-state fermentation. The first evaluated fibre substrates (namely acrylic, wool, cotton, and linen) on mycelial colonisation. Cellulosic fibres, particularly cotton and linen, supported more integrated and extensive growth, while wool enabled limited surface expansion and acrylic showed minimal colonisation. Overall, low biomass shows that textiles alone are insufficient nutrient sources, though fibre type influences moisture behaviour. The second experiment examined fabrication potential using submerged three-dimensional knitted structures. Cotton scaffolds showed more uniform colonisation and increased structural stability, whereas wool exhibited negligible growth. Growth patterns consistently followed areas of liquid exposure, emphasising the role of moisture and nutrient distribution and presenting potential transfer into textile design applications. The findings indicate that textiles function more effectively as moisture-regulating interfaces and structural guides rather than sole substrates for Ganoderma lucidum. By linking textile design parameters to mycelial behaviour, this research creates a basis for further development and highlights how CNC knit technologies and textile design choices can expand opportunities in mycofabrication.
Keywords
Knitted Textiles; Mycofabrication; Textile Templating; Biofabrication
DOI
10.21606/TI-2026.131
Citation
Kaiser, R., Elsacker, E., Robertson, M., Bridgens, B.,and Scott, J.(2026) Towards Textile Templating in Mycofabrication: Knitted Structures as Substrate and Scaffold, in Jane Scott, Sophie Skach, and Rebecca Stewart (eds.), Textile Intersections 2026, 17-18 September 2026, London, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/TI-2026.131
Conference Track
researchpapers
Included in
Towards Textile Templating in Mycofabrication: Knitted Structures as Substrate and Scaffold
This study investigates the potential of knitted textiles as both substrate and three-dimensional scaffold for mycofabrication, contributing to the development of textile templating approaches in biofabrication. While textiles are commonly used as reinforcement in mycelium-based composites, their role as active, designable interfaces for growth remains underexplored. Two experimental approaches using Ganoderma lucidum were conducted: seeding-based inoculation and liquid-state fermentation. The first evaluated fibre substrates (namely acrylic, wool, cotton, and linen) on mycelial colonisation. Cellulosic fibres, particularly cotton and linen, supported more integrated and extensive growth, while wool enabled limited surface expansion and acrylic showed minimal colonisation. Overall, low biomass shows that textiles alone are insufficient nutrient sources, though fibre type influences moisture behaviour. The second experiment examined fabrication potential using submerged three-dimensional knitted structures. Cotton scaffolds showed more uniform colonisation and increased structural stability, whereas wool exhibited negligible growth. Growth patterns consistently followed areas of liquid exposure, emphasising the role of moisture and nutrient distribution and presenting potential transfer into textile design applications. The findings indicate that textiles function more effectively as moisture-regulating interfaces and structural guides rather than sole substrates for Ganoderma lucidum. By linking textile design parameters to mycelial behaviour, this research creates a basis for further development and highlights how CNC knit technologies and textile design choices can expand opportunities in mycofabrication.