Fusing nature & design, we craft sustainable lampshades from mushroom mycelium, elevating interiors while respecting the environment.
Growing Goods
MushLume is an award-winning biofabricated lighting collection that is GROWN, not manufactured, from mycelium—the roots of mushrooms.
The lampshades are made by combining sustainably sourced hemp with mycelium, a rapidly renewable organism. In just a few days, the mycelium grows and binds to the hemp, forming a solid structure in custom molds. Once fully grown, the lampshades are dried and heated, resulting in a stable, biodegradable product.
Sustainability
By utilizing mushroom mycelium, we envision a sustainable future where resources are grown, not extracted. This process requires minimal energy and water, and when the product reaches the end of its life, it safely returns to the Earth, enriching the soil rather than harming it.
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Our mycelium is grown in a lab, not extracted from nature. For our substrate, we use a part of the plant that is a byproduct of the hemp industry. Hemp requires significantly less land and water to grow compared to other natural fiber plants and sequesters carbon dioxide into the soil. That’s a huge win for Mother Nature!
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Mycelium has an exponential growth rate, taking days to weeks to fully colonize, while hemp is one of the fastest growing fiber plants, maturing in only 60-90 days. Compare these growth cycles to other conventional raw materials like wood (20-30 years) or cotton-based fibers (130-160 days) and the difference is dramatic!
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In 2023, we purchased over 2,500 lbs of hemp substrate equating to nearly 1 acre of hemp, sequestering between 3 to 6 tons of carbon into the soil and locking up the carbon into the plant and ultimately the lampshade. Who knew that lampshades could help alleviate climate change in such a powerful way!
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Hemp requires about half as much water as other fiber crops, while mycelium requires very little water during the growing process. No additional electrical energy is needed during the mycelium growing process, the lampshades are grown using only the power of Nature!
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Rated home-compostable at the end of its life, the lampshade can safely biodegrade in your backyard compost, adding nutrients to the soil rather than pollutants.
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Indoor air quality is a growing concern for human health given we spend 70-90% of our time indoors. The lampshades are all natural! That means no off-gassing of harmful toxins into the air.
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All our packaging is upcycled and/or recyclable paper-based products:
Shipping box - recyclable cardboard
Hardware sleeve - recycled padded paper mailer
Cushioning - recycled paper wadding
Filler - recycled paper
Tape - recyclable reinforced paper
Stamped with Algae Ink
Good for People and Planet
BioDesign: Paving the Way
After a decade of research and development, our biomaterials are no longer experimental.
MushLume Lighting is among the first award-winning biofabricated products, and the first mycelium-grown lighting collection in the industry. Our work has inspired a global movement, encouraging designers and entrepreneurs to explore biodesign. As more products emerge, the biodesign movement gains validation and momentum, helping shift industries toward sustainable, nature-driven solutions.
Creating Legacy
2014
Danielle Trofe launched The MushLume Lighting Collection during NYC design week
2015 - 2017
MushLume Lighting wins multiple international design awards
2018
MushLume Lighting starts selling in Europe through retail partners
2020
MushLume Lighting scales U.S. production through partnerships
2023
MushLume Lighting launches in Europe selling under its own brand
2024
An Ode to Nature collection is launched during NYCxDESIGN winning 4 awards
MushLume FAQs
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The color of the mycelium skin is naturally white. Over time the skin will age and take on a slightly more golden hue. If you wish to maintain a bright white exterior, select our white milk paint option or explore the other color options we have available in limewash paint.
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Our oldest lampshades are 10+ years old and are still looking beautiful! Even though the material is biodegradable, as an indoor lighting application the material is stable and inert and will bring you many years of design satisfaction.
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To clean the shade of dust, please use a duster and gently brush the exterior shade. Do not use any liquids or cleaners.
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The lighting is rated for indoor use only. Dry, climate-controlled environments are best. If using for a bathroom or kitchen application, please consider our painted options to best preserve the material from moisture and airborne grease.
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Yes! Need a longer length of cord? A different colored cord? Need modifications or a different size lampshade? We can accommodate many requests. Please send an email to info@mushlumelighting.com
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The lampshade is grown using mushroom mycelium, but will definitely not taste like a mushroom. And we do not recommend ingesting your lampshade. However, your lampshade is made from only natural materials that are safe and healthy for both people and the planet.
Meet the Team
We are passionate about good design, connecting with Nature, merging disciplines, learning through exploration and keeping it small, local and true to ourselves. Brooklyn-based, woman-owned and always expanding into new frontiers, we are MushLume Lighting.
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Founder | BioDesigner | Biomimicry SpecialistDanielle founded her studio in 2011 with the goal to make sustainable design both accessible and attractive. With an emphasis on biofabrication and biomimicry, much of her work upholds a fundamental value of nature and embodies a systems thinking approach that benefits all life on this planet. Danielle holds a BS in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from Florida State University, a MA in Design from the Florence Design Academy and a MS in Biomimicry from Arizona State University. She is also a certified Biomimicry Specialist through Biomimicry 3.8 and has taught courses on biodesign and biomimicry at The Pratt Institute and Parsons The New School.
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Design Studio ManagerLujah has experience in studio management, biofabrication and collaborative procurement of large-scale event installations. She received a Bachelors in Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she developed a deep passion for creating thoughtful storytelling through the use of various materials and media such as installation, film, video and writing. Her journey with MushLume Lighting began when she joined Danielle Trofe Design in 2022, finding joy in exploring new ways of co-creating with mycelium and exercising her immense adoration for fungi.
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Living Organism | BiofabricatorThe vegetative part of a fungus, or better known as the roots of mushrooms! This incredible organism is truly one of nature’s greatest wonders. Responsible for distributing water and nutrients to all plants in a forest, mycelium is not only a distributor of vital resources in an ecosystem, but a connector of information and communication. Ever compare the image of the world wide web to that of a mycorrhizal network? Nearly identical in form!
In the Press
On Air
Awards & Recognitions
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Winner Environmental Impact Award for the MushLume Terrace Collection
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Winner Best in Sustainability for MushLume Lighting An Ode to Nature collection
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Winner of Best in Sustainability for MushLume Lighting An Ode to Nature collection
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Winner of Best in Lighting for MushLume Lighting An Ode to Nature collection
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Product Group Honorable Mention for An Ode to Nature
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MushLume Cup Light Pendant in the Food of New York Exhibit
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Finalist for the MushLume Lighting Installation at the 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
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Finalist for the Cup Light Table Lamp in the Table Lamp category
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Notable Award for The MushLume Lighting Collection in the Professional Furniture & Lighting Category
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Winner for The MushLume Lighting Collection in lighting