“There is a place. Like nowhere on Earth. A land full of wonders, mysteries and dangers! Some say to survive: you have to be mad as a hatter. Which, luckily, I am.”
It’s an early morning in Venice Beach. On the air are notes of freshly pressed green juices, a waft of smoke, the ocean breeze. A little off the beaten path, toward the end of Abbot Kinney is the storefront, jutting out on a street corner at an oblique angle. Suddenly, a black pickup truck comes blasting around the corner, splitting the crisp quiet. That must be Nick.
Today, bespoke hat maker Nick Fouquet introduces a limited collection of three styles of hats Made with Reishi™ to the world – the Coprinus, Morchella, and Reishi™ Boletus. A milestone in MycoWorks’ journey to Grow the Future of Materials, with this collection MycoWorks makes Reishi™, the world’s first premium Fine Mycelium™ leather alternative, commercially available for the first time. Included in the collection is the Reishi™ Boletus, the world’s first object made entirely from Reishi™: an inspired partnership between Nick Fouquet and Mycoworks spun from our shared passion for customized expression, master craftsmanship, and artistic inspiration. Explore the collection here.
Nick Fouquet: French American psychedelia-inspired, celebrity milliner with a wayward turn from environmental science into hat making—lucky for the world, lucky for all of us. His hatmaking: creative pilgrimage, exceptional talent, experimental slant, a studied devotion to historical craft, wisps of old Western American nostalgia. His hats: each a world unto itself, dynamic and exploring, modern sculpted pieces infused with deep knowledge of past traditions, crafted from wool, straw, leather, felt, beaver fur, and adventure. The Reishi™ Boletus: the very first object for purchase entirely Made with Reishi™—shaped with the singular originality and storytelling that only an expert artisanal maker can bring.
For this collection Nick chose an early generation of Reishi™ cotton sheets—a soft, earthy version of our material that is 100% natural and plastic-free. Their raw grain and one-of-a-kind texture mirror his aesthetic; the soft, natural patina, unique from sheet to sheet, renders each individual hat its own distinct work of art.
“I was just so excited, especially with those early sheets that had this brindling and natural patina, and when you smell it, it’s like this isn’t leather, it smells different, but it’s like leather.” – Nick Fouquet
For our first Made with Reishi™ product available for purchase we chose to collaborate with Nick Fouquet, a partner fitting of the milestone that this moment represents for MycoWorks. Nick shows an understanding of our material born out of his passion for conscious materials sourcing and creative experimentation. The sophisticated leatherwork skills required in hat making along with Nick’s one-of-a-kind interpretation of the craft make this partnership a fitting way for Reishi™ to take its opening bow.
“MycoWorks has always partnered with best-in-class, luxury craftspeople and is continuing its legacy with famed designer, Nick Fouquet. This collection of Reishi hats exhibits the unique hand and versatility of our materials,” says Sophia Wang, MycoWorks co-founder and Chief of Culture.
“The perfect hat for me is using the best materials, and the time and the craft that it takes to make it one of a kind. To me that’s what a perfect hat has to be: it has a story for it.” – Nick Fouquet
So, what’s the story of this hat collection Made with Reishi™?
Down the rabbit hole is where everything begins….