Irene Marie-Seelig
Sustainable fashiontech entrepreneur with a holistic approach
Irene-Marie Seelig Winner of LCF Kering Award for Innovation 2016 has produced the first shoe made from vegetarian mushroom leather combined with a circular supply chain and business model.
Irene who believes in a holistic approach to sustainability, used the Amadou mushroom to create a textile which has texture of suede and mink, yet is 100% biodegradable and renewable. Irene collaborated with LCF PhD student, Liz Ciokajlo, to produce a pair of shoes, creating a commercial product.
In this podcast we hear about Irene's time at Stella McCartney, winning the LCF Kering Award for Innovation 2016, her heartfelt journey to making Amadou a commercial success, and what's next to conquer in Austria.
IRENE-MARIE SEELIG at grainger and co, kings cross, london by bec o’connor for black neon digital
“Fashion has always been this artefact where you can learn more... a beautiful thing that you can look at, but then if you get close enough you can look deeper, what else is there, is there meaning behind this. ”
image courtesy of designer
“Amadou mushroom leather has taken me on a journey... I didn’t know how far I was going to go when I first applied for the Kering Award, I thought they are going to think I’m crazy or this is a great idea! Amadou was not in the media very much…but now it is.”
“Innovation lies at the intersection of the arts and sciences”
irene is wearing people tree blouse and trousers, necklace by VLTA a jewellery co-founded by irene
photos by bec o'conner for black neon digital, unless stated
podcast recorded at soap studios in camden, north london
