Jan 6

Jan 6 The Year of the Shroom

Mushrooms have long fascinated biologists but in recent months, it seems they have also become the it-organism amongst the trendy, thanks to their versatility and creepy-cool aesthetic. They convey magic, adventure, pushing the limits of imagination (think Alice in Wonderland or Fantasia) - all necessary elements for the escapism and wonder that we’ve been craving after COVID dealt us another blow with Omicron. It’s my prediction that they will continue to be one of the ingredients and inspirations of note in the year 2022. Here are a few examples.

Cute as a Button (Mushroom) Home Goods

I’m sure you’ve seen these Murano blown glass mushroom lamps on your Instagram or Pinterest pages… they are gorgeous, an influencer favourite, but also wildly expensive for the real deal. Check out the knockoffs on Urban Outfitters if you’re looking to replicate this spore decor on the cheap.

Fungal Fashion

Over the past few seasons, we’ve seen the influence of these little spores on designer runways. Iris van Herpen, whose designs are oft inspired by nature, in all of its weird, intricate, organically beautiful ways, nodded to fungus in her S/S 2021 collection. She saw beauty in the fungus, after the isolation of the past two years, pulling inspiration from the incredible way that mushrooms provide the network for communication in the natural world (if that sounds intriguing, check out Fantastic Fungi on Netflix). The high fashion nods have become more and more explicit as the inspiration trickles down to the high streets. Brands like Coach and Brinker & Eliza have also celebrated the trendy toadstool in recent designs.

Cremini Coffee

If you thought matcha, tumeric, or pea blossom coffee was pushing your brew to the next level, try mixing in a mushroom. There are a long list of benefits including reduced inflammation (a major cause for many diseases), better sleeps, supporting memory (COVID-brain is real!), increased energy levels, and more. Plus with packaging this cute, who could resist the reishi anyways?

The Magic of the Mushroom

And of course, you can’t talk about the rise of the mushroom without talking about the psychedelic wunderkind back on the block, Psilocybin or magic mushrooms. Shrooms have been used for many years by indigenous cultures as a tool for spiritual, religious, or mystic experiences, driven in part by their hallucinogenic properties. It was a favourite of the love children of the 70s and has recently experienced a resurgence in interest, particularly for its ability to facilitate therapies and improve mental wellbeing for those with depression. There is widespread anticipation and expectation that the drug will experience the cannabis treatment in Canada, with moves towards decriminalization and likely, legalization in the next few years.